A prestigious new office development is set to open in the heart of Bradford.

Metrochange House, the former offices of the West Yorkshire Passenger Transport Authority off Hall Ings, is undergoing a £1.2 million transformation.

Once completed, the building will boast a new glass frontage and entrance area plus hi-tech modern offices, and will be known as City Exchange.

It has been hailed as a major boost to the business assets of Bradford and it is hoped the building will form a modern gateway to the city. Today Nick Antrobus, regional director of the bluu Group which is carrying out the refurbishment, said the work would transform the look of the building.

Internally, four of the seven floors of office space will be brought up to standard, with plans to extend the work if it is successfully leased. He said that despite the tough market, the firm was confident it would be a successful project. "We have identified a potential niche market as landlords are seeking to add value to their properties in readiness for the pending upturn in the market for tenanted space," he said.

"People will see a dramatic improvement in the building from the outside. This is a development right in the heart of Bradford and next to the bus and rail links, so it is in an excellent location."

Martin Dalley, of the building's agents Grenville Smith and Duncan, said there had already been interest in snapping-up the new offices, which have been empty for more than a year.

"The building desperately needed developing to give it a new lease of life," he said. "We have already had a few potential tenants get in touch and we expect that to increase when it is completed and the building is there to entice people in." The refurbishment work is under way and is expected to be completed in September.