£15m regeneration scheme revealed for city’s top end
A MAJOR £15m development scheme has been revealed to regenerate the top end of Bradford.
The scheme would see a new food market open in the former Marks & Spencer building on Darley Street, with “significant” investment ploughed into Kirkgate Market as part of a redesign.
It would also see the Oastler Centre closed once the new markets are opened to the public, with the site to be considered for housing.
“Creating a new market at the heart of Darley Street would be brilliant for Bradford,” said Coun Alex Ross-Shaw, Bradford Council’s executive member for regeneration, planning and transport.
“We have a great food offer and our ambition is for it to be centre stage, in the heart of the City on a street associated with markets in Bradford for generations.”
Although no details have yet been given on the sums for Kirkgate Market, Bradford Council says this would be the biggest investment since it opened in 1974.
Market traders in the city were first to be told of the proposals yesterday, in a letter inviting them to a meeting to discuss the plans. Further detailed work is now to be carried out, Bradford Council said, before a consultation is held. Any feedback would be considered by the council’s executive later this year before a final decision is made.
The goal is also to make improvements on North Parade and nearby streets to make it more attractive to visitors and investors.
“City centres change all the time, regeneration never stops,” added Coun Ross-Shaw. “In this country our shopping habits have changed enormously and it’s important that Bradford city centre keeps pace with these changes.”
Opposition leader, Conservative Simon Cooke, said that while it seemed a good idea, more detail was needed.
“One does wonder where the several millions of pounds are going to come from,” he said.
“It seems a good idea but we do need to see how they are going to make it work in terms of the financial aspects.”