Developers could make history by building new apartment blocks in Bradford's Little Germany.

The move to build two six and seven storey buildings follows the launch of the former merchants quarter as one of Britain's first urban villages.

The multi-million pound schemes proposed by separate developers are being closely scrutinised by planning officers.

The aim of the Little Germany Urban Village Company is to draw hundreds of people to live in the quarter.

It wants to make the conservation area vibrant and thriving, instead of being an area which closes up at night.

One of the new buildings is proposed by a developer which is already taking over Caspian House in Little Germany and wants to create offices and big-name restaurants.

Now London-based In-Town Developments has submitted a planning application to Bradford Council to convert the Grade Two star listed Behrens warehouse in East Parade into apartments and offices. It also wants to build a separate apartment block beside Caspian House.

The striking Behrens warehouse building was built in 1873 and is regarded as one of the finest buildings of its type in Britain.

Because of its status, the Department of Environment and Transport for the Regions must be told of proposals to change its use to 37 one, two and three bedroom apartments.

In Town has also made a planning application for a seven storey apartment building next to Caspian House which would create 28 top quality flats.

Another developer, York-based Tenderton, has asked for planning permission for a new apartment building adjoining Delauney House at Festival Square.

Apart from the new schemes being submitted to the Council, the regeneration of Little Germany has already started with the Leeds-based Yorkshire Design Partnership buying Silens Works in Peckover Street to create 23 apartments.

And Landmark Developments has bought historic Treadwell's Mill to convert into homes and recently unveiled a scheme to build a hotel on the site of Shipley Paints in Leeds Road. All the new schemes could bring about 100 new homes to the new village within a city.

Stewart Hogg, a director of In-Town said: "We are trying to enhance Little Germany and give it what everyone says it needs."

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