City centre offices could be turned into 100 flats

An office building could be turned into more than 100 flats after one of the city's biggest employers announced it was moving.

The eight-storey building in Godwin Street, Bradford, is currently the headquarters of Vanquis Banking Group, which intends to relocate to the neighbouring building.

A spokesperson for Vanquis said the company remained "fully committed" to Bradford.

They said: "As part of our property strategy to enhance the working environment for our colleagues, we are relocating from No. 1 Godwin Street to No. 5 Godwin Street."

"We are also proud to be a major partner of Bradford 2025 City of Culture, supporting the city's vibrant cultural and economic growth in the year ahead," they added.

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, 1 Godwin Street is one of the city's most recognisable buildings.

The £45m development opposite City Park was completed in 2010 as a city centre regeneration project.

Until recently 5 Godwin Street was the office of PriceWaterhouseCooper (PwC) before it moved into nearby One City Park, leaving the space empty.

According to an application submitted to Bradford Council a US-based firm called ARC PFBFDUK001, LLC is hoping to turn the building into flats without planning permission.

The Delaware-based company is planning to use the "permitted development" system – which allows developers to convert office space into flats without planning permission.

These proposals can only be blocked if councils believe they will cause major highways, safety or environmental health concerns.

The upper floors of the building would be converted into one, two and three bed homes and the ground floor would be split to create two commercial units.

The application for 1 Godwin Street said: "The site is extremely well located with the town centre, and is adjacent to some key regeneration developments for the recent past.

"The proposal will result in new homes, assisting Bradford Council in meeting their identified need for housing on a sustainably and accessibly located site."

Each floor will have a number of rooms classed as "amenity space" which can be developed to provide lounges, private dining spaces, workspace or a gym.

Bradford Council is due to decide whether the scheme can progress by the end of next month.

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