Plans to develop a £15m leisure and shopping complex in listed mills are expected to win a reprieve after hitting problems.

Millionaire businessman Sharif Tariq has dropped proposals for a five-screen cinema at Cannon Mills in a bid to get the backing of planners.

Now, officers will recommend members of Bradford Area Planning Panel to back the application next week because of the amendments.

The application will have to be referred to Secretary of State for Environment, Transport and the Regions John Prescott, for a final decision, however, because the historic buildings are listed.

Officers will submit a report to panel members on Thursday which praises the amended scheme and says Mr Tariq has made an important commitment which should not be underestimated.

They say the cinema was the downfall of the previous application because of Government emphasis on leisure facilities being in town and city centres.

But the development would still include a large amount of shopping in the existing buildings and a one-stop wedding centre where customers could obtain everything, from the clothes to organising the reception.

It would be the first of its type in Yorkshire.

A new street of houses is included in the application for the redevelopment of the site which is already used as a thriving Sunday market.

The proposed scheme, which is expected to provide 250 jobs, is also being backed by a wealthy Saudi Arabian businessmen, Sheik Luqman.

Mr Tariq has already developed Keighley's successful Cavendish Court retail outlet and bought the Cannon Mills site for an estimated £2m.

The proposals also include a health club, restaurants and exhibition area.

Officers say the complex would preserve and restore Cannon Mills which is not in a good state of repair.