Easy-access homes for disabled people are being planned to replace derelict shops in Bradford Moor.

Disabled people and people with special mobility needs are to be given first refusal on a purpose-built bungalow and four semi-detached homes which are being designed as part of the regeneration of Mortimer Avenue on the Bradford Moor estate.

The estate's main street has been left with a single corner shop and a housing office after vandals caused the closure of a fish and chip shop, launderette and library.

The Habinteg Housing Association is seeking funding for the homes - which would be built if Bradford Council passes plans to close the road to traffic.

They would be built to allow wheelchair access to all rooms and feature strengthened walls and ceilings to take hoists and lifts if needed.

The Mortimer Avenue Steering Group, which is co-ordinating the regeneration of Mortimer Avenue, plans to demolish a row of shops to make way for the houses and move the housing office across the street.

Then work would start to transform the existing empty shops into office space to run training and youth schemes.

Steering group chairman Ian Doncaster said the future of the scheme hinged on Bradford Council passing plans to close Mortimer Avenue to traffic, which would be considered in the next three months.

Paul Smith, spokesman for the Bradford Moor Tenants' and Residents' Association, said: "It's a slow process but we are getting there.''

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.