A multi-million pound regeneration scheme to create thousands of jobs in Bradford city centre has been given Government approval, the Telegraph & Argus can reveal today.

The £35 million City Centre Growth Zone will start on November 1 and bring in a rate relief scheme to attract new and growing businesses.

The strategy is aimed at bringing in 2,800 jobs in retail and construction, of which 2,500 are through the Westfield shopping centre.

It is being funded through a combination of £17.6m from the Government’s Regional Growth Fund (RGF) and £17.2m from Bradford Council.

Councillor David Green, leader of the Labour-run Council, said the authority will now work with private companies and investors to bring new businesses into the zone by providing help and support with business rates.

He said the Council was looking to offer a “joined-up package”, offering help and support with training through the Get Bradford Working scheme and looking at a “more proactive planning” regime in the city centre.

He said: “The growth zone is going to achieve all of those but at its heart is the business rate support that we will be able to give on top of that.

“The growth zone is the core of it but we are getting together a plan to support the ongoing regeneration of the city centre because we recognise that no one scheme, be it City Park or Westfield, is an answer in itself.”

A bid was put into the Government for the money by the Bradford City Centre Development Group – a consortium of business leaders, councillors and senior Council officers.

Speaking on behalf of the group, Provident Financial chief executive Peter Crook said: “We are very supportive of the growth zone in that the city centre needs more jobs and we won’t get shops and restaurants and bars opening until there’s a lot more people walking around the city centre at lunchtime and after work.

“So we are very supportive of what’s being done – it’s good for our business and it’s good for our ability to recruit and retain good people.

“The launch of the City Centre Enterprise Zone indicates a growing confidence in Bradford city centre and Provident is pleased to be a part of that growing confidence.”

Conservative group leader Councillor Glen Miller said: “I’m pleased at any inward investment into the city because what gets investment in the city has a surrounding effect on the rest of the district but I would hope that the officers and the portfolio holder on this will brief opposition parties on a fuller basis because I have had very little information on this matter.”

Liberal Democrat group leader Councillor Jeanette Sunderland said: “It’s really good news for Bradford. It shows the coalition Government is delivering for Bradford, it’s now up to the Council to make sure it works.”

Bradford West MP George Galloway said: “Of course I welcome any public expenditure in Bradford and, as far as it goes, it can only help unless it’s misspent as I believe the £23 million on the mirror pool was misspent.”

Paul Mackie, vice-president of Bradford Chamber of Commerce, said: “Everyone wants to see the city centre as a more attractive, vibrant and welcoming place to work and to visit and so we’re hopeful that this initiative will answer some of the questions being posed in relation to how that could happen.”

Chamber of Trade secretary, Val Summerscales, said: “We are obviously delighted that this has been signed off by the Government and looking forward to business in the central area taking advantage of what’s available by this fund, to improve and expand the business premises and recruit new staff, within the criteria of the fund.”