A tea shop built without planning permission on the grounds of a Bradford commercial centre could be allowed to remain after a retrospective application was submitted to the council.
Tea O Clock, located at Chacha’s Plaza on Ingleby Road, was completed in late 2024, but no planning application was submitted before construction began.
Now, owner Anwar Bashir has applied to Bradford Council for retrospective permission to retain the café.
The tea shop sits within Chacha’s Plaza, formerly known as Westfield House, a building once occupied by the Grattan catalogue business.
In 2021, Bradford Council approved plans to convert the site into a community-focused development including a community hall, classrooms, games room and canteen.
Since then, the site has been redeveloped into Chacha’s Plaza, which hosts a range of retail units, food outlets and commercial businesses.
Planning documents submitted with the application argue that the café supports the wider development by providing food and drink facilities for visitors, shoppers and employees.
The application states that the café complements existing businesses and helps increase footfall and visitor dwell time within the plaza.
It says: “Rather than operating as an isolated destination, the café complements the existing commercial uses and enhances the overall attractiveness of Chacha Plaza.”
The documents also acknowledge that planning permission was not obtained before construction and state that the application aims to “regularise the development through the planning process”.
The proposal comes after Bradford Council refused plans in 2021 for two fast-food and café units on the same site.
At the time, planners argued that additional food and drink outlets could draw customers away from nearby town and local centres, harming their vitality and viability.
A decision on the retrospective application is expected next month.
