An empty building once used by an education provider could become a new city centre retail space, while part of the building reopens as a café.
The Opportunity Centre on Cheapside closed in Summer of 2023 when The Aspire-Igen Group was placed into administration.
The prominent city centre building was built as Bradford’s original Chamber of Commerce. It is opposite the entrance to Bradford Forster Square station, making it one of the first sights visitors to Bradford will see.
The seven-storey building, which had ground floor office space and a café, was recently purchased by Bradford charity Grange Interlink.
The charity has now submitted a planning application to convert the ground floor space into retail use.
The café area of the Opportunity centre will reopen as the first Bradford branch of Mr Tea – a Taiwanese bubble tea café based in Leeds.
As that unit was previously used as a cafe, planning permission for the new business is not required.
There will be some changes to the ground floor, including the addition of a new door to proposed retail space.
The planning application says the charity is: “Keen to bring it back into use as it has been unoccupied for over 16 months and is at risk of falling into disrepair.”
The building was opened in 1929 by the then Prince of Wales, who became King Edward VIII before abdicating.
The 16,908 sq.ft property was built for Bradford Chamber of Commerce at a cost of £86,000, and was in use until the early 1990s when Government pressure led to the amalgamation of Leeds and Bradford chambers of commerce.
In its heyday, it was one of the most prestigious buildings in Bradford, with key wool trade bodies holding office space, and a caretaker’s flat on the top floor.
It currently has a prime spot in the city centre, near both the Broadway Shopping Centre and Forster Square Rail Station.
The application adds: “This proposal does not affect the existing café, which will continue to operate as a café / tea room. The proposal is entirely in-keeping with the surrounding area as it forms part of a parade of shops, including retail, restaurant and barber shop.
“We strongly believe that the change of use of the facilities on the ground floor to retail will bring the building back into use, saving it from falling into disrepair, whilst creating employment opportunities and help contribute to the local economy.”
The application does not specify what type of shop would be based in the unit.
A decision on the application is expected next month.
