Store’s expansion will boost confidence in Broadway development

11:00am Thursday 6th December 2012 in News Photograph of the Author By Jo Winrow, City Hall Reporter

Artist’s impression of the Debenhams store at the long-awaited Westfield shopping centre Artist’s impression of the Debenhams store at the long-awaited Westfield shopping centre

Westfield, the developer behind Bradford’s long-awaited Broadway shopping centre, is in detailed talks with a number of prospective retailers about signing up to the scheme.

The news comes as an application has been submitted to Bradford Council to amend the existing planning permission to allow Debenhams to expand its store plans and increase its sales floors from two to three.

Westfield has described Debenhams’ expansion as a “strong vote of confidence” in the development and the city.

Duncan Bower, Westfield’s director of development, said: “The opening of Debenhams will be the first department store in the city and the larger format store will offer the people of Bradford and its surrounding area a greater range of quality brands.

“There is strong momentum behind the Broadway development with Marks & Spencer and Next also having confirmed stores in the development and a number of other prospective retailers in detailed negotiations.

“The recent launch of the Bradford City Centre Growth Zone, which offers business rebates to new or expanding businesses, will also be a further incentive for retailers to expand in Bradford and capitalise on the untapped retail opportunity. Following the completion and opening of the new shopping centre, total retail sales in Bradford are expected to grow by more than 40 per cent to reach just under £1bn.”

Rob Hadfield, property director of Debenhams, said: “Bradford is a key part of our expansion plans in Yorkshire and the larger store will offer the community a more compelling reason to shop locally.”

In October, Westfield announced that work is expected to start on the £260 million shopping centre in the second half of next year following a deal designed to kick-start the project.

It was confirmed that the site was being sold to a specialist real estate investment management firm, London-based Meyer Bergman.

Meyer Bergman will own the site and will appoint Westfield to develop, design, construct and lease the new shopping centre. Westfield will also be appointed as property manager for the centre once it is completed.

Councillor David Green, leader of the Council, said: “Debenhams wanting to expand the size of its store in the Broadway development signals strong retailer confidence in Westfield and Bradford. There is huge demand and desire for great shopping in our city centre, which provides retailers with excellent trading opportunities.”

The Council’s planning application decision is expected early next year.

Comments(16)

angry bradfordian says...
11:06am Thu 6 Dec 12

"Westfield, the developer behind Bradford’s long-awaited Broadway shopping centre, is in detailed talks with a number of prospective retailers about signing up to the scheme."

So, in summary either

a) they've only just started talks with retailers now years after starting the scheme

or

b) this isn't actually a new news story and they've issued a press release to make it look like something's happening.

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Albion. says...
11:07am Thu 6 Dec 12

Goodness! How exciting!

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MontyLeMar says...
11:24am Thu 6 Dec 12

Not this old chestnut again. You think it's dead in the water and suddenly it flaps its wings again. Has anybody seen any article relating to that noteworthy citizen of Bradford Elizabeth Price? The T&A seem to have no interest in the fact that she just won a major arts award, the Turner Prize. What does a citizen of Bradford have to do to get recognition, open a Shisha Lounge or get busted for drugs?

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Ragefire says...
11:34am Thu 6 Dec 12

My mother used a great saying, that's rather relevant here. "Less talk, more action".

Please?

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aje2010 says...
11:37am Thu 6 Dec 12

WOW, that is seriously good news!! You'd think that Debenhams might be thinking of pulling out or taking a smaller retail space but to say that they want to add an EXTRA floor, now that is a vote of confidence.

Like many people I also disappointed with the situation and many are to blame, however I just want the shopping centre to go ahead and don't want it scrapping. I went in to Halifax lately and left saddened after seeing the new complex. I had a meal (Pizza Express) with the family, watched a movie and cant wait till those things are offered in my home town. Any new scheme will have my 100% support.

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Pity Poor Bradford says...
12:20pm Thu 6 Dec 12

I'm looking forward to when they announce M&S are signing up. The have only signed up once this year so far.

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Rambo says...
12:27pm Thu 6 Dec 12

Same drivel re-hashed again. What is the actual news here?

Bradford will end up like Wakefield. The new shopping centre and existing retail park there have pulled trade away from the main shopping streets.The council there cocked up management of the market and it a pathetic shadow of what it was (like in Bradford), and aside from some big-name national brands the independents are suffering or have gone.

If this one in Bradford ever opens the area around the former Sunwin House will resemble the set of the Walking Dead as people will just go to the big name shops at the bottom of the city.

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Thee Voice of Reason says...
12:37pm Thu 6 Dec 12

Can we have a City Hall reporter for the T&A who actually asks questions and reports rather than one who simply puts to print the garbage they are told, over and over.

This is the 3rd time this story has been printed to my knowledge. Westfield is not progressing due to the T&A simply printing what they are told they totally missed the fact Westfield were selling the site a while back.

Can we have some proper reporting for once rather than rehashes of old stories.

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modman61 says...
1:20pm Thu 6 Dec 12

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
zzzzzzzzzzzz!!

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basil fawlty says...
2:04pm Thu 6 Dec 12

Rambo wrote:
Same drivel re-hashed again. What is the actual news here? Bradford will end up like Wakefield. The new shopping centre and existing retail park there have pulled trade away from the main shopping streets.The council there cocked up management of the market and it a pathetic shadow of what it was (like in Bradford), and aside from some big-name national brands the independents are suffering or have gone. If this one in Bradford ever opens the area around the former Sunwin House will resemble the set of the Walking Dead as people will just go to the big name shops at the bottom of the city.
The article is clearly an update, basically confirming that detailed discussions with other retailers are on-going. It's the most important issue for Bradford at the moment so an update is very helpful to the shoppers and traders in Bradford.
I work in Wakefield and the overall effect of the Trinity Walk shopping centre on Wakefield seems to have a been massive as a lot more people seem to be doing their shopping there. The rest of the city centre in now in a period of adjustment whilst some gravitate towards Trinity Walk and other new businesses and independents fill their void.
I agree Wakefield Market has been ruined as its now far too small.
Bradford city centre already resembles the set for Walking Dead. The Broadway scheme will surely revive Bradford's shopping.

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vikksy says...
2:16pm Thu 6 Dec 12

Oh Gaaaaaaaawd ere we go again.

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RuggerTyke says...
3:57pm Thu 6 Dec 12

Debenhams, a key contributor in the sorry decline of Bradford by burning the Busby's building down on Manningham Lane.

They haven't been in a hurry to come back since then.

Get the land off these Australian thieves as we don't want their corrupt name in our City.

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RuggerTyke says...
4:00pm Thu 6 Dec 12

http://www.thetelegr
aphandargus.co.uk/ar
chive/2001/06/02/Bra
dford+District+Archi
ve/8041582.Why_Bradf
ord_shops_are_on_the
_verge_of_bouncing_b
ack___/

Deja Vu much ?.

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i hate bradford says...
8:09pm Thu 6 Dec 12

A load of tosh. Bradford will never revive regardless of how many floors Debenhams has in this old town.

Guiseley is the new Bradford with Next TK Max Asda, Argos, ONE bargain type store (not a dozen as in BFD city center) a bed shop, a carpet shop, fast food. Slightly up the road there are others like Costa, M&S simply food, pets at home, Brantano etc. and over the road a nice sized Morrison's supermarket too. Everything all in one place with no hills or holes.

What is more the people are dressed much smarter and traditionally English and the place actually makes you feel as though you are still in the UK. You feel as though you belong there unlike Bradford.
It is clean and has FREE parking to encourage shoppers and is busy, buzzing, friendly and CLEAN.

Forget the Bradford city center it is so over, it isn't our town any more it has been desecrated by the council so leave it, them and the great big hole to the the people who like this kind of place and move on to pastures new.

Who in their right mind wishes to hang on to a sinking ship?

If anyone is actually desperate for a Debenhams store just need to hop on the train to Lovely Leeds.

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Albion. says...
8:17pm Thu 6 Dec 12

i hate bradford wrote:
A load of tosh. Bradford will never revive regardless of how many floors Debenhams has in this old town.

Guiseley is the new Bradford with Next TK Max Asda, Argos, ONE bargain type store (not a dozen as in BFD city center) a bed shop, a carpet shop, fast food. Slightly up the road there are others like Costa, M&S simply food, pets at home, Brantano etc. and over the road a nice sized Morrison's supermarket too. Everything all in one place with no hills or holes.

What is more the people are dressed much smarter and traditionally English and the place actually makes you feel as though you are still in the UK. You feel as though you belong there unlike Bradford.
It is clean and has FREE parking to encourage shoppers and is busy, buzzing, friendly and CLEAN.

Forget the Bradford city center it is so over, it isn't our town any more it has been desecrated by the council so leave it, them and the great big hole to the the people who like this kind of place and move on to pastures new.

Who in their right mind wishes to hang on to a sinking ship?

If anyone is actually desperate for a Debenhams store just need to hop on the train to Lovely Leeds.
I like shopping in Guiseley myself.
Having been in Debenhams Leeds store many times, I'm a bit surprised that they are in Westfield, It's to be hoped they get some other stores of a similar standard or it'll stand out like the Queen in a dole queue.

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Shelfrhino says...
9:16pm Thu 6 Dec 12

i hate bradford wrote:
A load of tosh. Bradford will never revive regardless of how many floors Debenhams has in this old town.

Guiseley is the new Bradford with Next TK Max Asda, Argos, ONE bargain type store (not a dozen as in BFD city center) a bed shop, a carpet shop, fast food. Slightly up the road there are others like Costa, M&S simply food, pets at home, Brantano etc. and over the road a nice sized Morrison's supermarket too. Everything all in one place with no hills or holes.

What is more the people are dressed much smarter and traditionally English and the place actually makes you feel as though you are still in the UK. You feel as though you belong there unlike Bradford.
It is clean and has FREE parking to encourage shoppers and is busy, buzzing, friendly and CLEAN.

Forget the Bradford city center it is so over, it isn't our town any more it has been desecrated by the council so leave it, them and the great big hole to the the people who like this kind of place and move on to pastures new.

Who in their right mind wishes to hang on to a sinking ship?

If anyone is actually desperate for a Debenhams store just need to hop on the train to Lovely Leeds.
That's why I moved here, it's a very nice place to live.

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