PLANS to set up a new food business in a city centre Conservation Area have been submitted to Bradford Council.

If approved, the scheme would see shipping containers installed in the walled car park area at National House on Sunbridge Road, along with outdoor seating for dozens of diners.

Plans show that there would be seating for 92 diners in the 458 square metres cafe site, both outdoor seating and seating under a new roof that would be installed between the shipping containers.

here would also be a unit containing toilet facilities.

A new wall would be built to separate the food area from the existing car park.

The plans, recently submitted to the Council by Sheraz Akram, say the proposals will “inject life” back into that area of the city centre.

The site falls within the Goitside Conservation Area - one of Bradford’s most architecturally significant areas, but one that has most recently been blighted by empty, decaying buildings.

National group Civic Voice highlights Bradford's Goitside area as 'at risk' conservation area

Once a thriving area filled with industrial buildings, mills and warehouses, Goitside, named after The Goit waterway which passes through it, is now mainly home to residential conversions and empty buildings. It includes areas of Sunbridge Road and Thornton Road.

In 2018 National heritage group Civic Voice released a report that used Goitside as an example of an “at risk” Conservation Area.

Earlier this year one of the street’s historic warehouses on Sunbridge Road, a short distance from the site of the proposed food business, was demolished over fears that it was close to collapse.

The National House site, which is overlooked by a residential building, is currently used as an open air pay and display car park.

Conservation Area rules prevent major changes to buildings or features within the area boundary, but the application says the fact that the site is within a walled area means it will not alter the views of Sunbridge Road from the street - and the temporary nature of the shipping containers mean no permanent changes are being proposed.

The planning application says: “The current use of the site as car park can be seen a negative contribution to the character to the area. However, the proposal seeks to bring a viable service to this part of Bradford and inject life back into the building.

“The mixed used café lies within the high boundary walls of surrounding the site, so the celebrated Sunbridge Road scene will be unaffected.

“No changes will be made to the decorated exterior walls and as the scheme is based on the use of shipping containers, the elements can be dynamic and easily adapted, maximising the future uses on the site.

“The Goitside area is built on the foundations of a man made waterway - the use of shipping container provide a link to that heritage as they are known for their connotations to waterways.

“The containers are also a more sustainable and will be prefabricated units, therefore having an advantage of a low damage risk to existing fabric of the site.

“The proposal will add to the growing variety of facilities in the conservation area, helping its economy of the area and further reinforcing the foundations of its innovative and dynamic character.

“The use to the property could be seen to serve as a homage to the street’s history as a culturally diverse market street, offering a variety of goods and services to the neighbouring residences and as well as attracting customers from further afield.”

A decision on the planning application is expected next month.