PLANS for a “significant investment” in a prominent site opposite Odsal Stadium have been approved by planning officers.

A planning application to demolish the vacant Angel Telecom building at Odsal Top and replace it with a more modern shop unit was submitted by Harry Khinda earlier this summer.

The application said the Rooley Avenue building, next to The Top House pub, had attracted little interest since it closed, and replacing it with a modern, albeit slightly smaller, building would help the site find a new tenant.

The application said the redevelopment could create nine jobs, adding: “The building has been built in an irregular shape to fill (as much as practicable) the entire footprint of the site.

“The existing shape, efficiency, finish, form and aesthetic quality of the building give it little in marketing value to attract tenants.

“The owner of the property wants to make a significant investment in this site to generate a more aesthetically pleasing structure, using a combination of traditional and modern materials to construct an appealing property which will benefit the area and future-proof their investment.”

Approving the application, planning officers said: “The proposed building is intended to give a more modern-looking impression, in order to be more attractive to future tenants. Of particular note is the substantial open glazing to front.

“The presence of a modestly-sized retail unit of more modern appearance to the present one may represent an improvement to visual amenity.”