Confidence in the city centre office market looks to be continuing to improve with occupancy levels at a landmark office block improving dramatically in recent months.

The 50,000 sq ft Broadacre House on Vicar Lane, Bradford, has enjoyed an influx of new tenants in recent weeks after long periods of poor occupancy levels.

The building used to be the headquarters of Bradford-based Yorkshire Water prior to its relocation to Buttershaw in 2002.

Amongst the organisations to have taken up occupancy in Broadacre House are, BEST, Foundation Housing and the Citizens Advice Bureau, who between them have accounted for five of the office block's ten floors and an annex to the rear of the property.

The news comes just a few weeks after Bradford law firm Drydens moved its 130-strong workforce into the long-empty Shire House on Harris Street, off of Shipley Airedale Road.

Despite the lack of progress on the mooted Broadway development, law firm Eddisons say the inflow of new tenants signifies that confidence in the city is growing.

Jonathan O'Connor, of the firm's Bradford office, said: "In recent times occupancy levels at Broadacre House on Vicar Lane have been low, but in the past few months this has all changed and the property is now 60 per cent full.

"What this points to is that businesses are really beginning to believe that Bradford's future is a bright one and, as a result, are starting to commit to the city.

"The plans for Bradford's redevelopment are truly spectacular and my advice to any business considering the city would be to get in now before prices start to soar."

President of Bradford Chamber, Balbir Panesar, hailed the news saying: "The building is on a strong site in relation to nearby facilities, so it's a surprise in some ways that it stayed empty for so long.

"Proximity to the city centre, train station and public parking are all benefits and so it's good to see take-up of city centre office space in this way.

"The fact that this news follows on after initial take-up in other city office buildings is, again, good news for Bradford, and we wish the new tenants well."