Car showroom plan for Victorian warehouse site

Plans to develop two prominent sites on one of the main road corridors into Bradford have been revealed.

Proposals to turn the former Uriah Woodhead site on Canal Road, which dates back to the Victorian era, into a car showroom have been submitted by AGO Developments Ltd.

The firm has also submitted a separate application for land next to the site for a temporary vehicle showroom.

A decision on the application is expected to be made by Bradford Council in April.

The former Uriah Woodhead site has been empty since then operators Huws Grey closed the site in March 2025.

Huws Grey had taken over the space in 2020, and before that the independent building warehouse had operated since 1866.

The new application suggested the showroom would be for Omoda and Jaecoo vehicles, brands owned by China's Chery Automobile, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

According to the plans, the adjoining temporary showroom would have space for 47 cars, though the application does not state how long the site would have that temporary use.

The application said developments over the two sites would eventually create 200 jobs.

Documents pointed out that the stretch of road, known as the Shipley and Canal Road Corridor, was seen as a major employment site for the district in the future.

The application said: "The design vision for the site is to deliver a modern, visually refined car showroom that enhances the character of Canal Road while providing a landmark commercial presence.

"The proposal is to use the existing warehouse shell, which will be partly demolished at the front of the site to allow for display cars.

"Large expanses of glazing will be introduced into the elevations to allow for the car showroom to serve its purpose."

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