Bradford could get a new department store or another hotel if the Abbey National bank demolishes Provincial House in the city centre when it moves into its new offices.

The new proposals were revealed to members of Bradford Chamber of Commerce by David Kennedy, head of Bradford Council's regeneration division, when he made a presentation on regeneration at their monthly meeting.

Mr Kennedy said: "Provincial House could be demolished and make way for a department store, which Bradford city centre really needs, or a hotel."

Bradford Council's principal planner, Chris Hughes, said today that an internal planning document had been prepared which gave a number of options for the use of the 1970s eight-storey building.

He said: "A department store is only one of the options for Provincial House if the Abbey National say they want to demolish it.

"We cannot take that decision but we know demolishing Provincial House is one of the things they are considering."

He said the building could be refurbished and used as offices, demolished and rebuilt as a department store, offices, a hotel or a number of those options.

"The current building does not fit in with City Hall or Centenary Square," he added.

Abbey National is building a new northern headquarters next to the Bradford Interchange which will house 1,500 staff. A spokesman for Abbey National said today that a number of options were still being considered for the building.

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