PLANS to turn a former city centre discount store into a “virtual reality experience” have been refused by planning officers.

The proposal to convert part of the old Boyes store on North Parade into a new leisure facility was revealed in the Spring.

Although planning officers were generally in favour of the business, the latest in a series of leisure proposals for city centre buildings, conservation officers raised concerns that the application had little detail of what the the building’s exterior would look like after work was complete.

The unit is in the Bradford City Centre Conservation Area and forms the backdrop to Oastler Square - home to the Grade II listed statue of Richard Oastler.

It is an area that is due to undergo a refurbishment in the coming years.

Plan's for 'proud old building' in city centre

The Boyes store was closed last year, after the business moved to the Kirkgate Shopping Centre.

The 40,147 sq ft store was listed at auction last Spring - selling for £225,000, although it has been empty ever since.

The VR experience application, submitted by Zeeshan Khan, would see part of this building become an area where customers can don high tech VR gear and immerse themselves in games and virtual experiences.

It says the business would create three full time and two part time jobs.

Richard Oastler, known as the “factory king” was a West Yorkshire politician who campaigned for a ten-hour working day in Britain’s factories.

His campaigning was down to Oastler being “moved by pity and indignation at the long hours worked by young children in factories” and the statue that was erected in Bradford in his honour has him stood with two young factory workers.

Deciding on the planning application, officers said there was “ample” nearby parking for the business, and that the business would bring a key city centre building back into use.

But Conservation Officers said there was just not enough detail in the application on how the work to the building would impact the Oastler Square and the statue - which they say is a “key part of Bradford history.”

The officer’s report said: “The information submitted with this application is considered to be insufficient in order for the Conservation Officer to make a full and accurate assessment of the proposal on the character and setting of the conservation area.

“The applicant property is also within proximity to listed buildings, and the Richard Oastler statue which are considered to be key parts of Bradford history.

“As it is not clear if alterations are proposed to the windows of the property, a full heritage comment cannot be provided, therefore the officer is unable to assess the impact of this proposal on the wider conservation area.”

Oastler Square is part of Bradford Council’s Townscape Heritage scheme - a National Lottery funded project that will see neglected buildings in the Top of Town area restored to their former glory.

And earlier this year it was announced that Bradford Council has secured another £925,000 funding from the European Regional Development Agency to improve Top of Town areas including Oastler Square.