A CHARITY has been given the go-ahead to turn a Manningham building into its first UK centre.

At a meeting of Bradford Council’s Bradford Area Planning Panel earlier today the Chaar Yaar Welfare Foundation was granted permission to convert Grade II listed Cavell House, on Eldon Terrace, into an Islamic Education facility.

The charity plans to use the building, which has been empty for over a year, to offer training to women, as well as run an after school Madrassah for girls. The committee was told up to 200 people a day could use the facility.

The building would also be used to host community events that would be open to everyone. There will be around 18 parking spaces provided.

The charity's other projects include two boarding schools for women, and another 15 schools in Pakistan.

The committee unanimously approved the plans, with Councillor Nazam Azam (Lab, City) describing it as a "great proposal."

After the meeting Azka Mashadi said work to convert the building would begin immediately. He said: “We’re not proposing any changes to the outside, so we’ve already been in tidying up. There are just a few repairs to make so we’ll hopefully be open in a few months.

“We are planning to hold events in the building that will be open to all members of the community.

“We have done a lot of work outside the UK, but we are based in Bradford and wanted to do work to help people here.”