A 100-year-old Bradford business today said it would not move - as a DIY giant announced plans for a massive store on part of its site.

Uriah Woodhead & Son Ltd has already obtained planning permission to refurbish and extend its Canal Road property.

But now Bradford Council has received another planning application from Alfred McAlpine Projects and Lattice Property Holders for a major retail warehouse expected to be occupied by B&Q and a separate garden centre.

The applicants say the new development would include accommodation for Uriah Woodhead. But today John Walker, managing director of Uriah Woodhead, said: "Uriah Woodhead & Son has traded in this area for well over 100 years and is still going strong. Neither the business nor any part of the Canal Road property are for sale.

"However, we would confirm that we were approached to sell part of the Canal Road depot - but all negotiations ceased at the end of October.

"We have faith in Bradford and have obtained planning permission ourselves to totally refurbish the depot and expand a new warehouse to about 140,000 square feet."

He said the expansion was a £750,000 capital investment in Bradford and would swell the company's 40-strong workforce.

The company's operations on Canal Road/Valley Road include a saw mill, hardware and ironmongery. They are also roofing, plumbing and timber merchants.

But the other companies have submitted a planning application to Bradford Council for a major DIY retail warehouse and garden centre with a 510-space car park.

They have told the Council it would create about 250 full and part-time jobs which would go to local people.

Their application accommodates Uriah Wooodhead on the site and the applicants say it would regenerate the part of the site which was previously a British Gas depot.

A spokesman from McAlpine's said it was too early to comment on the position with Uriah Woodhead.

But he added he believed the scheme could enhance the area on a main route into the city.

Val Summerscales, secretary of Bradford Chamber of Trade, said: "Uriah Wooodhead is one of our members and we would want whatever they want."

Jeff Frankel, chairman of Bradford Retail Action Group, said: "It is a matter between Uriah Woodhead and the other company. But we would welcome either development to improve the site."

The DIY applicants have told the Council that other modern B&Q stores are drawing customers away from Bradford city centre which does not have one. They say they believe B&Q customers will also use shops nearby and boost trade in the city.