Plans in for Bradford City Village
ECF’s scheme for a regenerated city centre neighbourhood has progressed to the next stage with a detailed planning application for Phase One submitted by Avison Young.
An outline application for the rest of the site has also been lodged.
Looking to transform the ‘top of town’ area, including the 1,000 homes across the Oastler, Kirkgate, and Chain Street sites, plans also include three new landscaped, green spaces which will complement recently completed walking and cycling improvements.
The wider project team for Bradford City Village includes 5plus Architects, re-form Landscape Architecture, Avison Young, Cushman & Wakefield, and Turner & Townsend.
Plans for Phase One include:
- The creation of 33 townhouses on the Chain Street site, centred around a community green. Featuring a mix of two and three-bedroom homes designed to suit a range of household sizes and needs, each with designated parking space.
- A further 64 two and three-bedroom townhouses on the northern Oastler site, arranged around a series of courtyards and green spaces, each with designated parking space.
- Supporting infrastructure including safer roads, landscaped public spaces and active travel routes that promote walking and cycling to help create a sustainable community with health and wellbeing at its heart.
Bradford City Village has already secured major inward investment, including £13.2m in-principle from the West Yorkshire Combined Authority and £30m of funding via Homes England.
Earlier this year, Bradford-based affordable housing provider, Incommunities, was selected as ECF’s preferred funding partner to deliver the first phase of townhouses for sale and rent, subject to a final legal agreement.
Later phases of the City Village neighbourhood will include more than 300 apartments on the southern half of the Oastler site, alongside approximately 400 apartments on the Kirkgate site.
If plans are approved, demolition of the Oastler site is expected to begin later this year, ahead of work beginning on Phase One in spring 2026.
Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe, Leader of Bradford Council said: “It is very exciting to be taking this next step towards realising the vision for City Village.
“Just as we’ve recently seen Darley Street Market successfully open its doors to great acclaim, so City Village will continue our work to transform the ‘top of town.’ It will be game-changing for the city centre.
“City Village is so much more than a housing development; it’s about creating a thriving, people-centric neighbourhood that encourages activity and brings communities together.
“We are leading the way on this, and it will set the gold standard for the future of urban living.”
Simon Dew, director of development management – Yorkshire and North East at ECF, explained: “These are high quality homes with gardens, designated parking and good connections to public transport links as well as new walking and cycling routes.”
Rachael Dennis, Chief Executive of Incommunities, said: “Our region faces a shortage of high-quality, affordable housing, making our programme to deliver 350 new homes across West Yorkshire more vital than ever.”
Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire, said: “By breathing new life into the heart of Bradford, we’re not just building homes – we’re creating a vibrant, inclusive community that reflects the city’s ambition as the UK City of Culture 2025.”
