A £1 MILLION underground development of shops, cafes and bars is due to open in Bradford at the end of September following its expansion.

The Tunnel, built underneath Sunbridge Road, Upper Millergate and Ivegate, will include 14 small retail units and four restaurants/bars in a Victorian-style complex.

The complex aims to provide starter units for new businesses, and the 20,000 sq ft development will also include an art gallery and regular arts and craft markets.

There would also be access from City Park and Sunbridge Road and the site would also link to the Arndale Mall.

The tunnel features some buildings which have not been used for almost 90 years.

It has previously been a nightclub and bottling plant, and some of the newly acquired buildings were Victorian homes.

There will be Victorian-style units running along the tunnel's internal street with a large glass area above.

A courtyard will have an open open plan glass and steel staircase leading to Upper Miller Gate.

The units will be laid out over the main floor, a mezzanine and two upper levels.

Developers, who are also working with Bradford Council and Bradford College on the project, are targeting young entrepreneurs, in particular aged 18 to 30, to sign up for a space in the site, which will feature flexible trading terms.

When it was announced the project had been given the go ahead by Bradford Council in August last year, it was hoped the site could open by the end of the year.

But this has been pushed back after the project has expanded by almost a third since work began.

Graham Hall, of Yeadon-based developers Sunbridge Wells, said more than 70 businesses have expressed an interest in taking on a unit in the privately-funded development.

He said: "We are looking at opening at the end of September.

"We are just chipping away with the project now. It's going well.

"We are just about to fit the shop fronts now.

"The staircase is being manufactured off site. Everything is going on.

"It's going to be a unique experience for the city centre and a good tourist attraction for young and old.

"This is all good news for Bradford.

"Negotiations are ongoing with businesses interested in taking on a shop or bar.

"It's intrigue of what is down there for people. Everybody will want to see it at least once, especially as it's underground.

"About 70 people have expressed an interest so far.

"Inquiries have come from shops that stock lingerie, brand name handmade soaps and handbags.

"I have no doubt that the whole place will be let very easily. It has to be different and unique and everyone has to work together on it."