Defence Online

Ambitious plans to turn a derelict 19th century city centre church into a conference facility, wedding venue, and restaurant have been given the green light by Bradford Council.The developer, Sunrise Radio, is also set to use St Mary’s Roman Catholic Church on East Parade, Barkerend, as its new studios, with a private weight loss clinic and residential house completing the plans for the site.The proposals, submitted in May, had received the backing of Labour MP for Bradford East, Imran Hussain, and Councillor Nazam Azam (Lab, City) who described the project as a positive for the regeneration of the area. The Grade-II listed building was built between 1874 and 1876 as the Mother Church for the Bradford Diocese, but closed as an active parish church in 2006.It was formerly owned by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Leeds, with its associated buildings including a presbytery house, a nursery, and the 1920s Scala Picture House.It had recently been used as a base for charitable groups including the homeless charity Emmaus and the Bradford Metropolitan Food Bank, which says it now has to find an alternative venue by the end of this month.