New health centre gets planning approval for Bradford city centre site

A NEW health facility can be built on a derelict site in Bradford city centre.

The shell of the old Kingfisher House on Filey Street will be converted into a new orthopaedic care centre after a planning application was approved by Bradford Council this week.

Standard Health Group, the organisation behind the plans, has said the work will be a “transformative step in addressing the demand for enhanced medical facilities” in Bradford.

The building, just off Wakefield Road, has previously been used as offices for the Royal Bank of Scotland.

But the building has since been stripped out in preparation for a number of developments that have never materialised, including a hotel and “curry college” where the next generation of chefs would learn their trade and a gym, spa and café.

It has stood as an empty shell for years.

Planning officers have now approved the health centre plans, saying the site is currently “in a state of significant disrepair” and is crying out for a major redevelopment.

Standard Health, which provides orthopaedic NHS care, says the new “state of the art” facility will be called Kingfisher Orthopedic Centre.

It will include an operating theatre, diagnostic suite, physiotherapy space and inpatient recovery facilities – including rooms for patients to recover overnight.

There would be 30 parking spaces, EV charging spaces and space to park 12 bicycles.

The building is part of Jinnah Court – and a row of newly built business units sit opposite the health centre site.

It also falls within the Bradford “Southern Gateway” – an area eyed for major regeneration in the coming decades.

Approving the development this week, planning officers said: “The building is currently in a state of significant disrepair, with the majority of the external walls removed, leaving the inner foundations exposed.

“Consequently, the site is poorly maintained, littered with building materials, general debris, and overgrown vegetation, resulting in an unattractive and unsightly appearance.

“The external finish of the proposed development reflects the style of modern commercial units, typical of those found in industrial parks or out of town retail centres.

“Given that the existing building, in its current state, detracts from the visual amenity of the area, by contrast, the proposed development would represent a marked improvement.

“The application site is located within a sustainable location, close to Bradford city centre making it easily accessible on foot and by public transport.”

All the trees on the site will be retained.

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