Originally 100 homes were intended as part of a multi-million pound scheme including a cinema, shops and bowling alley on the Broad Street car park opposite the town hall.
However, the economic downturn has meant the developers, Miller Gregory (Ha
lifax) Ltd and Calderdale Council, have changed their plans.
In April the number of flats was cut from 100 to 61, with a 100-bedroom "Plaza'' hotel included in the plans instead.
Now the group is to build offices instead of apartments and a senior councillor has told the Yorkshire Post it is possible the authority may consider moving staff into those premises rather than refurbishing nearby Northgate House as currently planned.
Yesterday, Richard Tovey, development director of Miller, said: "Very recently we have taken out apartments altogether because of the economic climate. The market is extremely tough and there is a struggle nationally.
"Instead in block one of the development we will have 30,000 sq ft net of office space – it's common sense and our decision reflects the market conditions."
He said it was hoped that the development would go ahead next year.
It follows an announcement that a major development in Leeds has been mothballed.
The developer behind the 952-home Lumiere scheme said it would be ''commercial suicide'' to continue.
On Tuesday, Calderdale's planning committee was due to discuss the Broad Street application but former planning chairman Coun Grenville Horsfall said this application may not now go ahead given the change of plans.
He said: "This saga just goes on and on and on. Personally I would prefer for it to stop as a car park – it's handy for people who want to shop in the centre and brings in a fair amount of revenue.''
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