AN “unconventional” Art Deco inspired building in Bradford city centre can be redeveloped after a recent planning application was approved.

56 James Street was the subject of a planning application late last year that would see the ground floor shops altered to create an addition retail unit, and the upper floors converted into three flats.

Submitted by A Gilmour, the application said the three flats would include two one bed units and a three-bed duplex apartment.

The work would include a refurbishment of the building’s 1930s frontage and its more modern, yet more traditional, extension.

Planners said: “It is an unconventional building and its prominent frontage towers above the properties on either side by half a storey.

“The host building has a 1930s frontage with large upper floor windows and Art Deco influenced detailing to the front elevation.

“There are no policies or known circumstances which would constrain development of this kind in relation to the host building and surrounding locality.”

James Street is likely to gain increased prominence in the coming years - it is earmarked as one of the main shopping streets for a planned "city village" that will see housing built on the site of Oastler Market and the Kirkgate Shopping Centre.  Both buildings are due to be demolished in the coming years.