Bradford Council Secures £29.9m Government Funding for “City Village” Development

Bradford Council has accepted close to £30 million in government funding, potentially paving the way for the commencement of a new city centre development. This project, which the council has named a “City Village,” is slated to include approximately 1,000 homes, in addition to retail and leisure facilities. According to the local authority, the grant funds are designated for the demolition of the Oastler and Kirkgate Shopping Centre sites, marking the initial phase of the scheme. Furthermore, a developer for the initiative was designated during a meeting held on Tuesday. A spokesperson for the authority commented that the proposals are “starting to attract high levels of interest.” Dave Shepherd, Bradford Council’s director of place, stated that research indicates a growing preference among individuals to reside in urban areas. He remarked, “They enjoy the buzz of city centre life.” Shepherd added, “The regeneration of Bradford is showing the investment community that Bradford is open for business, and we’re starting to attract high levels of interest. “This will bring around the scale of improvements necessary to turn the city’s fortunes around.” The Local Democracy Reporting Service indicates that the Oastler Centre is scheduled for demolition in late 2025, with the Kirkgate Centre to follow in 2026, as per the current plans. During the meeting, the council formally accepted £29.9 million from Homes England’s Brownfield Infrastructure & Land fund, intended to facilitate the project’s initiation. ECF, a collaborative entity comprising Homes England, Legal & General, and Muse, was also designated by councillors as the preferred development partner. Construction is anticipated to commence in 2027 and is projected to span a period of ten years. Simon Woodhurst, the regeneration development manager, commented that Bradford began from a “low base” concerning city centre living. However, he expressed optimism that initiatives like the pedestrianisation of specific areas were enhancing the city’s appeal. He further stated: “Hopefully the new mass transit scheme will give people the ability to live in the city centre and travel elsewhere.”