A massive proposal to transform a "tired and rundown" section of Bradford city centre into a fresh urban village has been formally lodged. The initial planning submission for Bradford's City Village is now officially active, and – should it receive approval – construction could commence with the demolition of the Oastler Shopping Centre later this year.
The proposals will deliver approximately 1,000 dwellings across three locations in the city centre – the former Oastler Market site, the location of the Kirkgate Shopping Centre and across a series of car parks in the Chain Street Area. The project is being brought forward by ECF (the partnership between Homes England, L&G and Muse) and Bradford Council.
The fresh planning submission contains comprehensive details of the initial phase of the development – residential units on Chain Street and a portion of the Oastler site, plus new thoroughfares, public green areas and cycling and pedestrian routes in this zone. It also contains outline particulars of the remaining site – more than 903 residences and up to 7,000sqm of retail and community facilities.
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Numerous properties in this future stage will form part of substantial apartment blocks. Whilst there is limited information regarding the proposed retail and commercial units, the application documentation states the redevelopment will generate around 300 full time positions.
The submission, comprising 56 extensive documents, is now available on Bradford Council's planning portal for public examination. Bradford Council is optimistic that the project will rejuvenate a part of the city centre that has experienced dwindling footfall in recent years due to various factors.
The national decline of the high street, coupled with many businesses relocating from established city centre areas to the Broadway shopping centre in 2015, has impacted Bradford. The Morrisons supermarket, which was a significant draw to the top of town area and anchored the Oastler centre, closed its doors the subsequent year.
The City Village scheme has already attracted substantial inward investment, including £13.2m in-principle funding from the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, a strategic partner aiding in bringing the scheme to fruition, along with £30m of Government funding via Homes England. Incommunities has been selected as the landlord for the social housing included in the plans.
The detailed portion of the new application includes:.
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* The development of 33 townhouses on the Chain Street site, centred around a new community green. The development comprises a mix of two and three-bedroom homes, each with a designated parking space.
* An additional 64 two and three-bedroom townhouses on the northern Oastler site, arranged around a series of courtyards and green spaces, each with a designated parking space.
* Supporting infrastructure such as safer roads, landscaped public spaces and active travel routes that encourage walking and cycling.
Several consultations have been conducted regarding the City Village plans, with feedback from these consultations included in the application. The document reveals that 422 individuals responded to the most recent round of consultations.
The most frequently used words to describe the City Village area by those consulted were tired, rundown, unsafe and empty. When asked why they didn't frequent this part of the city, respondents cited a lack of cleanliness, mentioning rubbish, drug-use, and an overall dirty environment.
They also pointed out an "Absence of appealing shops, with closed storefronts and limited choices." According to the document, 62% of those consulted expressed support for the City Village plan.
Further details on the next phase – the development of the Kirkgate Centre site and the rest of the Oastler site are anticipated once work on the first phase commences.
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Coun Susan Hinchcliffe, leader of Bradford Council, expressed her excitement about the progress, stating: "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."
Should the plans receive approval, it is anticipated that demolition of the Oastler site will commence later this year, with work on Phase One slated to start in spring 2026.