Retail plan for demolished factory given go ahead

A major development, including eight industrial units, three drive-through restaurants, a filling station and convenience store can be built on a former factory site after plans were approved.

An application to redevelop the former Rentokil site on Cemetery Road was submitted to Bradford Council in late 2023, and was approved this week.

The application said some brands had shown an interest in the site's restaurants, and a "well known" EV charging company had also expressed interest.

It said the site had been "vacant and remained derelict" for the last decade and the development would "regenerate the site and improve the local economy".

Bradford Council's public health department objected to the plans submitted by ISA Industrial Park Ltd – particularly the inclusion of the drive-through restaurants.

Current council policy prevents takeaways from opening within 1,312 ft (400m) of a school or facility frequented by children, such as a park.

The site is a short distance from Dixons Kings Academy, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

But planning officers dismissed the objection, stating the units were classed as restaurants, and not takeaways.

Approving the scheme, officers said a number of brands were interested in occupying the restaurants "but nothing can be confirmed until planning permission has been granted for the development".

"The brands include a sandwich shop, a coffee shop, and a street tea/café brand and would potentially have between 24-28 seats," officers added.

"These uses would not be classed as hot food takeaways as per the Supplementary Planning Document and would be classified as restaurants with an ancillary drive-through element."

The application said the development needed to be close to the city's Outer Ring Road to "provide a sufficient flow of vehicular movements to ensure the scheme is viable" and have enough space for the units.

The developer has agreed to a number of biodiversity measures, including a "green roof" on one of the buildings, landscaping and a £416,500 payment to Bradford Council to create wildlife improvements in the area.

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