A CITY centre site once earmarked for a major redevelopment project can be turned into a car park.

The former workshop site on Thornton Road was once due to be transformed into a “landmark” multi million pound new building of 138 apartments spread out over nine storeys.

It would have included four shops and a cafe on the ground floor and a landscaped courtyard.

Those plans, by Golden Sands Developments, were approved in 2015 and the company said it would enhance Thornton Road.

But after the company went into administration, the scheme folded and the site - next to Hollings Mill and within the Goitside Conservation Area, has remained empty.

Last year an application was submitted to Bradford Council by Kamran Khan to turn the site into a 41 space car park.

That scheme has now been approved by Bradford Council, despite concerns from a top council officer.

Site once earmarked for the £350 million 'Bradford Channel' development could now become a car park

Heritage officer Jon Ackroyd said the car park plans were “disappointing” for a prominent site in a Conservation Area. He added: “The proposed use is disappointing when development comprising a built form which would contribute to both the long term regeneration of the area and the visual quality of the Thornton Road frontage would be desirable. The proposed car parking would not result in significant harm to the conservation area, but the use does constitute piecemeal development.

“The proposed frontage treatment of hooped bars would add nothing beneficial to the streetscape, only revealing a proposed barren tarmac expanse which would be populated by cars.”

But planning officers approved the scheme despite these concerns.

They said: “The site has a boarding up along Thornton road subjected to graffiti and within the site is an unsightly tipping ground.

“An occupation of this site and this utilising the site would improve the current situation particularly within a sensitive Conservation Area.

“The comments from the Conservation and Design are noted. Seeking a use of the wider area which would be suitable is depended on a developer coming forward and in the meantime the visual harm where the boarding up along Thornton road subjected to graffiti and within the site is an unsightly tipping ground would remain.

“It is considered the occupation of the proposed use of the car park would not be unduly prohibitive to a potential developer to look for a scheme which would improve and enhance the conservation area.”

It is the latest proposed grand city centre development to instead become a car park.

In 2018 plans for a car park were approved for a site on Holdsworth Street - the site of a proposed £350 million housing development that also included a re-instated canal.

And last week it was announced that a planned public sector hub on the former Jacob’s Well site had stalled. The site is currently being used as a car park.