A building which once housed one of Bradford's oldest businesses is to be converted into apartments.

Bradford developers Khan and Kahn have bought the former H R Jackson china shop in Darley Street.

They plan to convert the upper floor into apartments but keep a street-level shop.

The company has obtained planning permission for 15 apartments in the £650,000 scheme and is seeking the go-ahead for another four.

The closure of H R Jackson last year, after 85 years, was described as a sad blow to the city by Bradford Chamber of Trade.

But today Kurshid Khan, a director of Khan and Kahn, said it was a prime site for apartments as city living takes off in Bradford.

"The regeneration of the city centre is going to make this an excellent area to live," he said. He said the apartments would be priced between £85,000 and £250,000.

"The same apartments in Leeds are selling for £250,000 and we are asking to increase the number because there is so much demand," he said.

It will be the biggest housing development so far in the Darley Street area.

H R Jackson was set up as a family business in 1919 by Horace Rex Jackson who served in the Royal Hussars in the First World War before he opened his first fine-china shop. His daughter Moyra Oldroyd worked at the shop for six decades. Even in 1919 when there was little money about customers travelled from far and wide to buy the china and figurines. Famous visitors to Jackson's included Sir John Wedgwood, great-great-grandson of the famous potter Sir Josiah Wedgwood.

The new owners snapped up the building as soon as it came on the market.

Mr Khan refused to comment on the purchase price.

He said a tenant would take over the shop in the ground-floor unit which is close to Darley Street post office.

Khan and Kahn is now seeking a developer to take over the historic former courthouse in Manor Row. The company, which bought the property last year, has planning permission for a £650,000 scheme transforming the inside of the building into 16 apartments.

The homes would be priced between £80,000 and £150,000.