PLANS to bring new uses to two prominent city centre buildings, including the iconic Wool Exchange, are currently being drawn up.

The Grade I listed Wool Exchange, home to Waterstones and several other businesses, could have its empty spaces transformed into a boutique “art hotel” under plans currently in the very early stages.

And Vintry House on Piccadilly could be used as an “events and digital creative space” under a £1.5m redevelopment scheme.

Details of the plans are included in a new report on various regeneration projects in Bradford city centre. The report will be discussed by Bradford Council’s Regeneration and Environment Scrutiny Committee at a meeting on Tuesday evening.

Built in the 1860s, the Wool Exchange was the centre of the city’s wool trade.

One of the few Grade I listed buildings in the city centre, it is seen by many as one of Bradford’s most beautiful buildings.

Describing the possible plans for the Wool Exchange, the report says: “Art Hotel – a redevelopment of the Wool Exchange into a Boutique Hotel as part of an identified need offer quality, unique accommodation offers in city centre.”

Nic Greenan, Principal Officer for Cultural Partnerships at Bradford Council, said the work would only involve the empty space that already exists on the upper floors of the Wool Exchange - it would not require any of the building’s existing business to shut.

Compared to the Wool Exchange, Vintry House is a much less impressive building.

Building work starts on Darley Street's new multi-million pound market

Before Marks & Spencer moved from Darley Street to The Broadway Shopping Centre it was used to store stock for the department store - and was linked by an overhead tunnel.

Since work began to demolish the former store to make way for the new Darley Street Market, the large building has been used to store construction goods and by site contractors.

The report says a feasibility study is currently underway to give the building a new use after the market work is complete.

It says the plan is for: “A £1.5million repurposing of Vintry House a sustainable and accessible multi use major event and digital creative space with room for galleries and workspace.”

Mrs Greenan told the Telegraph & Argus that both the studies were being drawn up so Bradford would have “shovel ready” cultural projects in place should any new funding be made available.

She said: “It is making sure we will be in a good place once a funding opportunity arises.”

The schemes could prove particularly relevant if Bradford is successful in its bid to be City of Culture for 2025.

Both feasibility studies should be completed by the end of the Summer.