A last-ditch attempt to gain planning permission for a site occupied by an illegal bazaar has failed.

A newly-published Council agenda reveals the Secretary of State has dismissed an appeal over Bradford Council’s refusal of a change of use application for the former Shires Bathroom site in Beckside Road, Lidget Green.

The inspector’s decision confirms that the site’s designation cannot be changed from mixed use to retail use.

Former Tradex Bazaar owner Mohammed Saeed, 55, and his son Khalid Saeed, 27, had been running the bazaar at the former Shires site in August 2011 without permission for retail use.

When the Council tried to close it down by enforcing a stop notice the pair continued to trade, which landed them in court in May this year where they were ordered to pay almost £90,000 in fines and costs.

The stop notice had been the first to be issued by the Council for 20 years. Tradex had rented the premises from the Italian Furniture Company (IFC), owned by Mohammed Saeed’s wife and other members of the family.

It was IFC who then went on to apply to planners to change the use of the site from industrial to retail, which would have allowed the legal operation of an indoor market.

However, that application was refused in May last year because it would have a detrimental effect on the lawful trade of other markets and was likely to cause traffic congestion.

IFC then took it to appeal, but it has now been dismissed by the planning inspectorate, which also upheld the enforcement notice banning the market from trading.

Mohammed Saeed was not available for comment when the Telegraph & Argus tried to contact him.

A report from the planning inspectorate said: “The development would be likely to have a detrimental impact on the city centre markets and at least one local shopping centre in Carlisle Road both in terms of trade and future investment and that impact is likely to be significantly adverse.”

Meanwhile, Mohammed Saeed has been trying to turn a building on Idle Road, Bolton, Bradford, into a fashion and fancy goods market. But the plan has met with opposition from residents and councillors and has twice stalled due to issues over lack of parking.