Developers today stepped up their bid to bulldoze Bradford's towering Provincial House and replace it with a bar and restaurant complex.

St James Securities has submitted an amended planning application to Bradford Council for the multi-million pound scheme, proposing a higher development than previously considered, with space to be let for an arts facility.

A public inquiry has also been set for November 27 and 28 into the refusal of its original planning application by Bradford area planning panel in April.

But, in a new twist to the controversy, the developer of the award winning Calls canal-side regeneration scheme in Leeds called on the Abbey National Bank to retain the eight storey-high office block, pictured, which it owns opposite Grade One-listed City Hall. Peter Connelly, who is also currently transforming the historic Silens Works in historic Little Germany into luxury apartments, said: "It is a good building with real presence. You could never build it again. The location is fantastic."

Mr Connelly and Bradford Arts Forum would like to see the ground-floor banking hall as an exhibition hall with galleries and restaurants. They say the rest of the 1970s building could be used for apartments and offices. Alan Brack, of the Arts Forum, said the forum would be objecting to the new application.

"Provincial House gives the type of presence which is needed," he said.

"There is the opportunity to do development work inside. All that a pub development would bring would be a handful of jobs. Provincial House could accommodate a better size of leisure development and there would be a commercial element which could fund the arts."

He said he was amazed the council had not had a public debate on the building in view of its location.

People now have three weeks to make representations to the council about the proposals.

The original planning application was turned down because its scale and appearance was out of keeping with City Hall and the surrounding areas.