Developers are poised to bring more continental style eateries just yards away from Bradford City Hall.

The caf bars are part of a new multi-million pound hotel being developed in former offices in Market Street, Bridge Street and Broadway.

Leeds-based developer, Castle House Investments, which was given planning permission for the hotel last year, have started stripping off the upper floors of the office seven storey office block ready for conversion into a 127-bedroom hotel.

Now they have submitted a planning application to Bradford Council to change the first floor offices and existing ground floor premises, including the Acropolis and Burney's bakery in Broadway, into cafes and bar restaurants.

The plans to redevelop the lower levels of the block come as the developers of the Forster Square retail park propose to demolish nearby towering Provincial House and replace it with a £6 million stone complex with pavement cafes and bars. It would also have an eight metre square screen for viewing arts events.

A planning application for the Provincial House scheme is expected to be considered in March.

Today, Ian Biggins, of Manningham architects Waller and partners who have designed the scheme said: "We feel this is a prime place for the development. It will bring life to Centenary Square and make Bradford a caf society."

Officers will recommend councillors to approve the scheme at tomorrow's Area Planning Panel. They say the ground floor currently houses a collection of ugly shop fronts. The leisure scheme will be largely glass fronted and the officers say it will sit well in the city centre conservation area.

In the report, officers say that they believe the building will look fresher and cleaner and, although modern, will fit in well with the rest of the city.

David Haigh, of Bradford Inner City Licensing Association, said: "It is good that it is utilising an old building which would become derelict but I think they are over saturation point for new bars."

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