ONE of the city centre’s most prominent buildings could soon be converted into a family activity centre – with trampolines, mini golf and virtual reality.
Grade II listed Sunwin House was built in the 1930s as a Co-Operative emporium, but to recent generations of Bradfordians it will be best known as the former TJ Hughes.
The bulk of the art deco building has been empty since 2011 when the department store left the city.
But now a new planning application submitted to Bradford Council would see the ground floor of the building converted into an entertainment venue, targeting families.
The plans also call for a café and for the building to be repaired and restored.
A separate application calls for new signage on the building, indicating the venture would be called G.O.A.T Gaming.
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Works to the building will include a deep clean of the canopy, signage and shutters, removal of graffiti, repairs to windows and the installation of CCTV.
Submitted by Nusra Ali, the application says they have “bought into the regeneration of the city.”
It adds: “It is anticipated the ground floor will be converted from a retail premises into a mixture of activities including trampolining, indoor golf and virtual reality.
“The underlining theme of the facility will be to improve the health and well being.”
It says the café will offer “a healthy alternative to the usual take always within the local area.”
It adds: “The building itself has been derelict for a number of years and is in need of refurbishment. It has great potential and by renovating it into a multi use games facility it will attract people from the City and beyond.
“Diversifying the area as a hub for culture and the arts could enhance the city’s reputation and encourage other inward investment .
“The premises’ success will be in that of the unique and diverse businesses that will operate.
“Recent statistic suggest that Bradford possess one of youngest growing population in the country. However there are a lack of facilities that accommodates for a younger diverse generation.
“We feel the rise of such facilities particularly in Bradford is extremely popular amongst teenagers, students and young professionals.
“Many use spaces similar to meet up.
“Changing attitudes in working practices has created a more relaxed and flexible working manner.
“A strong café culture has emerged since the easing of the lockdown; with people now choosing to work in bars and cafes.
“The café will be at the heart of the building and will meet the needs of the end user and also reach out to the wider community within the area.
“There is a lack of such facilities along Godwin Street and Thornton Road.”
The activities in the refurbished building will be aimed at families with children aged 4-18.
Designed by WA Johnson of CWS for the City of Bradford Co-operative Society in 1936, the store was built in the International Modernist style and heavily influenced by the German architect Erich Mendelsohn.
It was an early and influential example of the open store principle, with lifts and stairs tucked around the edges of the shopping area and it also had the first escalators to be installed anywhere in a Co-op store.
It was Grade II listed in 2006 – five years before TJ Hughes closed its doors.
Located at the prominent junction of Sunbridge Road and Godwin Street, the building retains much of its 1930s grandeur, although its boarded-up ground floor windows provide a sorry view of the city centre.
In 2019 PriceWaterhouseCooper moved into the more modern section of the building on Godwin Street, making it their new Bradford hub and bringing hundreds of jobs to the city centre.
However, the more prominent sections of the building remained empty, and have recently been daubed in graffiti.
In 2020 Sunwin House was added to Save Britain’s Heritage’s “At Risk” list of buildings that were in danger of being lost to dereliction.
Last month the 20th Century Society included it in a list of the region’s best 20th Century buildings, saying: “Its unaltered appearance, both externally and internally, is extremely rare.”
A decision on the planning application is expected in August.
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