Plans to transform ‘Harrods of the North’ given go-ahead

Plans to transform the former Brown & Muff building in Bradford city centre, once known as the ‘Harrods of the North’ into an aparthotel, have been given the green light.

The planning application was submitted in September by Stamford Properties, outlining their strategy to extend and convert the building to form 69 apartment/hotel rooms.

The site is adjacent to the Wool Exchange, a Grade I listed building, located off Market Street with the main entrance accessible from Ivegate Street.

The development has been designed by Manchester architects Fletcher-Rae.

Co-founder of the firm, Andrew Rae, said: “The former Brown & Muff building is prominent in the area, yet semi-vacant and underutilised. With plans progressing, active use will be reinstated across the upper floors and the building’s presence will be enhanced with a recogniseable frontage from surrounding high-streets. The underlying aim of the development is to strengthen the area, acting as a catalyst for further development.

“Due to the flexibility of the aparthotel design, the venue accommodates overnight bookings and lengthy reservations alike with the capacity to accept guests for a duration of six months or more. Room sizes vastly vary from 28sqm to 50sqm family-sized rooms, including 4four accessible rooms, appealing to tourists and business travelers alike.”

Contractors have yet to be selected for the building work and a start date has also not been set.

Dating back to 1814, the original Brown & Muff Company was demolished and rebuilt in 1870, designed by architects Knowles & Wilcock.

Founded by Mrs. Elizabeth Brown, the department store was renowned for luxury goods, known as the ‘Harrods of the North’.

The business was taken over by Rackhams and eventually closed in 1995 due to the downturn in the economy. The building has been remodelled over the years to adapt to its changing use and is currently semi-occupied with most of the basement, ground and first floors units occupied by various food, retail, and commercial tenants.