Plan for convenience store on Bradford garage site approved

Proposals to demolish a garage on the edge of Saltaire and build a convenience store in its place have been approved by Bradford Council.

The plans for the vacant Northcliffe Garage site on Saltaire Road were submitted earlier this year, and were the second such application to build a shop on the site.

Last summer another application for a store to replace the garage was refused over concerns it could draw shoppers away from the centre of Shipley and Saltaire. Officers also raised highway concerns about a new shop being built on the busy road.

The new application, by Rashid Moghul, included a new transport assessment claiming the business would not cause any major highways issues.

It said the convenience store would mainly be used by people living nearby, and would not impact local town centre shops.

It added: “Given the commercial past of the site and that of the immediate vicinity, the proposal will not introduce a use that is unfamiliar to the area.”

The application is for a 320sqm shop with 10 parking spaces to be built on the site.

Five people had objected to the plans, questioning the suitability of opening a new shop next to Wycliffe Primary School, and pointing out there are a number of other shops within a short distance of the site.

Shipley Town Council also objected, highlighting concerns over extra vehicular movements and air pollution.

But planning officers approved the application on Friday.

Referring to the pollution concerns, they said: “Objectors raise concerns in relation to air pollution, however, it is considered that proposal would not have significant adverse impact on this due to the nature and scale of the development.”

They added: “The scheme provides sufficient parking and Highways raise no concerns in relation to highways safety subject to conditions.”

One condition of the approval is that the business can only open between 6am and 11pm.