THE upper floors of a city centre retail building can be converted into flats.

95-99 Godwin Street, opposite the Kirkgate Shopping Centre, is home to ground-floor shops including a clothing store.

But this autumn plans to convert the vacant space above the units into 12 apartments were revealed by Abdul Ghafoor.

The conversion would be carried out through Permitted Development – a planning rule that allows developers to convert empty office or retail space to residential without the need for planning permission.

A separate planning application was submitted to create a new entrance to the upper-floor apartments at ground level.

Explaining why the upper floor retail space was no longer needed, the application said: “The retail sectors have been hit hard economically since post-Covid, the ongoing conflict at the Middle East and Red Sea and as a result of many people purchasing retail items conveniently online.

“The retail units will remain, as it provides an active frontage for now, but the upper floors will be converted to residential apartments.”

The application for the new entrance has been approved by Bradford Council. Officers also gave the green light for the residential conversion – saying there were no serious concerns that could be used to block the flats.