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A prominent city centre shop unit will be converted into flats after a planning inspector overturned Bradford Council’s decision to block the scheme.
Much of 111-117 Sunbridge Road has already been converted to residential, but when plans were approved, it was on a condition that the ground floor of the grand building remained used as retail space.
In 2018, an application to convert the entire building into flats was refused by Bradford Council.
Officers at that time said: "The proposal would result in harm to the vitality of the city centre through the loss of an active ground floor frontage and the loss of a retail use."
The interior of 111 Sunbridge Road
Application to make retail space 2 flats
The retail space remained empty, and last year an application was submitted by Rajan Gupta, of Medipharm Bradford Ltd, to convert the ground floor into two flats.
That application was refused by planners, who said measures to prevent passers-by from peering into the ground floor flats – making much of the glazing opaque - would leave future residents being unable to see out their own windows.
An appeal looking to overturn this decision was then submitted, and said: “The ground floor was marketed for let as a shop units for a period of over three years, during which time not serious offers were made to take on the lease of the property as a commercial unit.
“During this time the ground floor shopfront was deteriorating and also was plagued by vandalism and bill posting, which made the rest of the building look unsightly and made for an unpleasant environment for the rest of the buildings occupants and for the wider public.
“We feel we have made all reasonable attempts to bridge the gap between opposing policy requirements i.e. that requiring a good outlook for the occupants’ amenity and for the requirement for privacy for the protection of the internal space and amenity of the occupants.”
Council decision overturned - here's why
Now, planning officer J Buxton has overturned the council’s decision.
They said the works would “bring a long-vacant unit back into productive use, make effective use of an existing building in a highly sustainable city-centre location and provide two additional dwellings.”
Referring to the view from the flats, they said: “The outlook from the windows comprises views of the street, passing activity and surrounding townscape.
"Whilst urban in character, such views nevertheless provide a meaningful outlook and contribute to the living conditions of future occupiers.
“The proposed manifestations to the lower sections of the glazing would prevent direct overlooking between pedestrians using the adjoining footway and steps and the internal living accommodation.
“I do not find the relationship between the proposed accommodation and the adjoining public realm to be unusual or unacceptable.”