Plan to turn ‘pigeon-infested’ city centre building into flats have been revealed

A PIGEON-infested city centre building that was gutted by fire almost eight years ago could soon be refurbished and converted into flats.

The former offices of William Hicks Solicitors on Piccadilly was recently flagged up by Bradford Civic Society as one of the top 10 buildings in the district that urgently needed to be regenerated.

They have cautiously welcomed plans by Bradford based property developers the Sekhon Group to convert the building, but have raised concerns at the the number of small flats planned for the city centre.

The building, 8-10 Piccadilly, was the former home of William Hicks Solicitors and was also known as Empire House.

In June 2010 the building suffered a huge blaze that was tackled by 100 firefighters from across the district.
It left the inside badly damaged, and it is currently boarded up. A tree is growing out of one part of the building.
The building, 8-10 Piccadilly, was the former home of William Hicks Solicitors and was also known as Empire House.
In June 2010 the building suffered a huge blaze that was tackled by 100 firefighters from across the district.

It left the inside badly damaged, and it is currently boarded up. A tree is growing out of one part of the building.
The building, 8-10 Piccadilly, was the former home of William Hicks Solicitors and was also known as Empire House.
In June 2010 the building suffered a huge blaze that was tackled by 100 firefighters from across the district.
It left the inside badly damaged, and it is currently boarded up. A tree is growing out of one part of the building.

Last year plans to convert neighbouring 12 Piccadilly into 13 flats and a ground floor office were approved. Approval was granted for 6 Piccadilly to become eight flats.
And plans to turn the upper floors of 1 Piccadilly, above an Age UK shop, into 14 flats was approved in 2016.
A decision on the application for 8-10 Piccadilly is expected in April.