THE owners of a city centre retail park have been given the go-ahead to boost its food offer, in a move they hope will bring in more visitors.

British Land has been granted planning permission to install ‘pop-up’ food stalls at Forster Square Retail Park.

Up to five street food stalls will be installed in and around the underpass area that links the two sides of the retail park – near PC World.

British Land says the goal is to make the area more attractive to pedestrians, and it is part of ongoing work to make the retail park a destination visited by people on foot as well as via car.

The landowners had applied for permission for the temporary units in March, and Bradford Council granted planning approval last week.

The vendors are likely to change over time, and in the application British Land gave examples of similar businesses operating at different retail parks they own, including some operating out of converted caravans and others running from converted shipping containers.

With the opening of The Broadway shopping centre, British Land has looked to increase the number of people who walk to the retail park from the city centre.

The application for the units had said: “The area provides a pedestrian link between the two parts of Forster Court.

“However, currently that part under Hamm Strasse it is not the most pleasant environment and could discourage movement on foot between the two phases of the retail park.

“The pop-ups are seeking to serve a specific market created by Forster Square.

“They are seeking to reinforce the physical link between the two phases of the park.”

The development will take up 32 parking spaces, but the company had argued that the area of the car park was rarely near capacity.

West Yorkshire Police had supported the scheme, saying staff at the units would provide natural surveillance for the area.

British Land is also in the process of re-developing the former Royal Mail site at Forster Square as a third “phase” of the site.

Last year plans were approved to develop a leisure scheme made up of a cinema, gym and restaurants and cafes. Demolition work started on the site earlier this month, and is expected to be completed by the end of August.