PLANS to restore and renovate a vacant building on a street in Bradford city centre have been submitted.

The building – 4-6 Darley Street – is described as being in need of restoration. 

The building was previously used as a retail space. The facade, roof, and internal qualities of the building are in need of restoration to achieve a usable area, the applications states.

It adds that the facade of the building requires improvement to match the current quality of the newly built Darley Street Market.

The proposal, submitted by Bradford-based Faum Architecture, aims to create two units within the existing building.

The first unit will include the building’s basement and ground floor, while the site’s first and second floors will form the second unit. Access to unit two will be via a lift. Both units will include separate and private access points.

The application says: “The client aims to create an iconic and sustainable retail building at the heart of Bradford that will support the vision of Bradford city centre.

“The proposed site stands as an emblem of historical charm and contemporary relevance.

“Situated in the heart of the city, it offers easy access to an array of cultural attractions, bustling shopping districts, and diverse dining experiences.

“The newly-renovated building desires to express and capture the history of Bradford, while providing modern interventions to emulate progressive cultural heritage.”

The application adds: “The proposed design requires re-cladding of the ground floor shop front to adhere to both modern and traditional feel of the street.

“Re-rendering of the current skin is proposed to achieve fresh and neat elevations, improving the present atmosphere of the building and the street.

“Installing new windows for better building insulation and signage to easily identify unit access.”

It says that improving the cladding of the ground floor retail front “is necessary to revive the facade of the building and attract future tenants and customers”. 

The building connects the new Darley Street Market and the Grade II-listed former Santander site.

The market, which is now reaching the final stages of its construction, is being built on the former Marks & Spencer site. When it opens next year it will replace the Oastler Shopping Centre and Kirkgate Market. 

Meanwhile, Santander shut its Darley Street branch in April last year and moved to The Broadway shopping centre. The bank’s former premises closed following the identification of extensive structural issues affecting the historic building.