The owners of the Bradford's Kirkgate Centre today withdrew their objections to the £200 million Broadway Shopping Centre at the 11th hour.

Prudential Assurance were in negotiations with Bradford Council as the public inquiry into the major development started this morning.

BAE Pension Fund Trustees, owners of 16-20 Broadway, were also expected to withdraw their opposition.

It was revealed for the first time that Debenhams would be the eventual occupiers of the centre.

The ten-day hearing will deal with challenges to compulsory purchase orders for properties under the scheme.

Bradford Council has received a total of 27 objections.

Last-minute objections, however, have been received from Transport 2000 and Railfuture who fear the development will prevent the connection of Forster Square and Bradford Interchange stations.

The owners of the 'Banana Block' on Petergate, London and Associated Properties, and the owners of the block adjoining the National Westminster Bank, Castle House Investments voiced their objections to the plans.

Richard Max, on behalf of London and Associated Properties, said the compulsory purchase orders were not in the public interest.

He said: "This CPO is driven by a proposed scheme which is incomplete in important respects, will require fresh planning permission and not serve Bradford well."

The scale of the development would have a massive impact on the city which has a large conservation area and would have an inevitable 'blighting' effect.

"To improve this area of Bradford, you don't need to shove in a vast shopping centre", he added.

David Hardy, representing Castle House Investments, said there is no need for the north block to be included in the development and that it was sensible to reduce the number of units planned.

"We say that the proposal could be reconfigured in such a way as to produce a more appropriate development which would provide acceptable critical mass in terms of leisure, retail and floor space," he said.

John Hoggett, for the council, told the inquiry the large department store, which would be the anchor of the development, would be occupied by Debenhams.

He said apart from the Kirkgate Centre the city was depressed and in decline with its trade draining away to Leeds and the White Rose Shopping Centre.

He said it had a poor external image and even people living nearby did not bother to shop there.

He added that the city's roadscape did nothing for the area and the scene was dominated by traffic, with a clutter of signs and street furniture.

But the development would mean a "step change" in the quality of shopping.