THIS is the striking residential development that will soon be created on a city centre street blighted by empty buildings.

The plans for 28-32 Canal Road will see the building fully refurbished from empty office space into 74 one-bed apartments - with the architect describing it as a “high end” development.

There will also be two extra floors built on the building with a metal shed between the two properties knocked down to make way for more modern features.

The ambitious plans by Greenshoots Architecture were first approved in 2015, but the development can now finally go ahead after a number of conditions of that planning application were approved by Bradford Council.

These include the type of materials being used for the building, guttering and security measures for the new flats.

Providing these details to the Council earlier this year, C49 Architecture said: “We trust this allows you to confirm discharge of the above conditions allowing a start on the proposed development.”

Officers agreed to these finer details last week, paving the way for work to start on the building.

Flats plan for empty 19th century Bradford building

The four storey property, which is in the Cathedral District Conservation Area, was built in 1884 by the Fattorini family who became famous for providing jewellery to the Queen and other esteemed clients, as well as creating the design for the FA Cup.

It is part of a row of imposing mill and warehouse buildings just a short distance from the Broadway Shopping Centre, many of which are empty.

In the existing parts of the building there will be 42 apartments, with another 32 based in the new build sections.

In the application the developers described this aspect as creating a “striking junction between modern and historic.”

The development of this building is one of many planned for Canal Road.

West Yorkshire Properties has permission to turn a derelict neighbouring building into 33 one-bed flats. That building had been empty for years, and has vegetation growing out of its boarded up windows.

And earlier this year an application to turn the former Ibatex building 45 one and two bed apartments was approved by Bradford Council.

That application was also by Greenshoots architecture.

On the plans for 28-32 Canal Road, Josh Harling of C49 Architecture said: “Our client on this and the building next to it are both working to get a full start on the projects and are both looking to bring Canal Road to high-end developments.”

The area is a key part of Bradford Council’s City Centre Action Plan for the coming years. The plan lays out where residential, leisure and business developments should be in different areas of the city centre.

It describes Canal Road as “one of the main routes into the city centre.”

A vacant strip of land a short distance from these buildings has been earmarked for a residential development of up to 100 homes.

The action plan also says pedestrian and cycle links in this area should be improved in a bid to reduce the numbers of cars in the area.