Long empty shops to get refurbishment in bid to attract new retailers

A new application to spruce up the units on Darley Street, as well as buildings on Duke Street and Piccadilly, has been revealed by the buildings’ owner – Panther Properties.

The Potters Bar based company owns the buildings, known as the Darley Street Quadrant, which are between Duke Street and the under construction Darley Street Market development.

The block includes two bars and a live music venue, but the remainder of the units – ground floor shops and upper floor office space, is vacant.

A new planning application to refurbish the building says one unit has been empty for almost 50 years.

The planning application is to replace shop fronts of the Darley Street units to make them more attractive to retailers looking to open up next to the multi million pound market development.

The Piccadilly section (Image: newsquest)

Other sections of the quadrant will receive urgent repairs.

Darley Street was once home to some of Bradford’s biggest retailers, including Marks & Spencer.

Many retailers moved to the Broadway Shopping Centre when it opened in 2015, and others have since shut down.

The Marks & Spencer store has since been demolished, and is being replaced by a three storey market hall and “city square.”

But other parts of the street are now a shadow of its former glory.

The application to refurbish the buildings say the work “will utilise existing shop areas, attracting more retailers.”

The plans say the roofs in some areas of the building are “sagging” and riddled with damp, and moss can be found growing inside the units.

The Duke Street buildings (Image: newsquest)

The application says: “The improvements are critical for the client so they may let out the units, some of which have remained unoccupied for almost 50 years.

“It will also allow for occupation by retailers one of Bradford’s main high streets.

“The buildings will retain their current appearance, with improvements made to the existing shopfronts.

Work to refurbish eyesore Bradford city centre building is approved

“The current shop fronts on Darley Street are to be removed, and a new shop front will be installed that follows the principals and proportions of the original shop fronts on Darley Street.

“The new shop fronts will be made of Accoya wood, incorporating features typical of the late Victorian period and early 20th Century.

One of the empty units on Darley Street (Image: newsquest)

“The proposed installation of the new shop fronts on Darley Street will provide for a traditional appearance, yet stylish addition to the street.”

It says the work could be carried out using funding from the Townscape Heritage Scheme – a lottery funded scheme to restore heritage buildings in the city centre.

A decision on the application is expected later this month.

Alan Hall, Vice Chair of the Bradford Civic Society, said: “We all know that Darley Street has attracted much criticism from Bradfordians.

“But perhaps things are changing… “Buildings, mainly vacant shops and offices to the rear of the new market, are to have traditional shopfronts and heritage widows installed - at least that is what the planning application says, and Bradford Civic Society is fully supportive of that, especially if the Townscape Heritage fund can be used for the work.”

A decision on the application is expected later this month.