Council and ECF take next steps with Bradford City Village
The partnership between Homes England, Legal & General, and Muse will deliver up to 1,000 homes, three community parks, retail, and office space in the former commercial heart of the city, with a planning application expected in spring.
Bradford’s decision to formally appoint ECF for the project proper, after 18 months of working together, was approved on 5 November by the council’s executive board.
To fund it, the council is entering into a grant agreement with Homes England, to release £29.9m of provisional brownfield infrastructure & land funding, subject to HE approval before the end of this year.
The wider project team for Bradford City Village also includes 5plus Architects, re-form Landscape Architecture, Avison Young, Cushman & Wakefield and Turner & Townsend.
Plans include the demolition of the Oastler and Kirkgate shopping centres, with the former taking place in summer 2025.
Bradford Council and ECF signed a pre-development agreement at UKREiiF 2023, with early images of how the scheme might look released earlier this year.
ECF has been working with Bradford Council to develop a masterplan for the last 18 months, and will now work in partnership with the council to submit a planning application by spring 2025.
The regeneration project is one of fifteen places identified in the strategic place partnership between the West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA) and Homes England, which aims to unlock regeneration schemes and deliver thousands of homes.
The Oastler demolition will make way for public areas and retail space. Credit: Bradford Council
Bradford Council’s lead member for regeneration, transport and planning Cllr Alex Ross-Shaw said: “This is part of a much bigger picture of regeneration across Bradford as our current regeneration programme like One City Park, Darley Street Market and the pedestrianisation works start to complete.
“City Village is the next big regeneration programme and will re-define the centre of Bradford.
“It shows the direction of the city centre for the next 10 years – quality housing, more public and green spaces, and safer streets, to create the quality of city centre living that Bradford needs and deserves.
“Our vision is to create a healthy, sustainable and community-friendly neighbourhood.
“While housing is at the heart of these plans, City Village will also create opportunities for new independent retail, cafes, bars, and business spaces.
“Bringing more homes into the city centre will also increase custom for the existing businesses on North Parade, where our recent investment shows what a sustainable, greener high street can look like.”
Sir Michael Lyons, chair of ECF, said: “City Village is Bradford’s most ambitious regeneration project in generations.
“The funding made available by Homes England marks a significant step forward and demonstrates the commitment to ECF’s partnership with Bradford Council and the future of the city centre, coinciding with the city’s forthcoming UK City of Culture year.”
Bradford City Village is a significant part of a major programme of enhancements in the district, including the £23m Darley Street Market development, and highway and public realm infrastructure improvements as part of the Bradford city centre walking and cycling scheme.
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