WORK to build industrial units on a former Chinese restaurant site are nearing completion.

Saltaire based JC Estates Yorkshire were granted planning permission to build on the Imperial Restaurant site on Thornton Road last February.

After almost a 12 month build, the company are nearing completion on the 10 light industrial units, which are of sizes varying between 146m² and 180m².

And the site will be named after the restaurant – Imperial Court.

Plans for 12 industrial units in South Bradford submitted

Director Jahanara Choudhury said “It has been a challenging build, the groundworks, and weather conditions caused significant delays, and lockdown also pushed us way past anticipated deadlines, we can see completion now, and the units are actively being marketed for sale through Starkeys Estate Agents, we hope to attract owner occupier businesses who would rather be in their own unit, than a rented one.

“The units have been designed by local architect Michael Ainsworth, they have been designed for small businesses, and to hopefully fall under the current business rates threshold.

“There is a desperate shortage of new industrial units in the Bradford district, more and more brownfield sites are being allocated for housing, and warehouses that are being built are for much larger businesses.

“This leaves a void for the small business who needs to grow and mature into a space where they have more control and security.

“Thornton is a vibrant business area, with nearby Fireclay business park, always full. The units are past Thornton village, on the site of the old Imperial Chinese Restaurant, and the site has been aptly named Imperial Court, we have seen a strong level of enquiries and are quietly confident that this development will attract quality small business occupiers.

“Where possible we have sourced all building materials locally, used local contractors, nearly all from the Bradford District”