Bradford Telegraph and Argus: Development Plan

Bradford Council is proposing to encourage the following development over the next 15 years:

AREA 1: LITTLE GERMANY AND BROADWAY

  • An area west of Valley Road would be earmarked for 600 homes, possibly high-rise buildings
  • The Royal Mail sorting office site could become shops, offices and homes
  • The development of the Broadway Shopping Centre site would be a priority
  • A ‘Cathedral Quarter’, would be developed near the cathedral, with 300 new homes. Some of the homes would ideally be created by converting an old school building
  • The Burnett Street car park and East Parade car park could have 50 homes built on them each
  • Olicana House, a vacant council office in Chapel Street, could be replaced with 20 homes

AREA 2: THE MARKET SHOPPING AREA

  • The development of the Broadway Shopping Centre is expected to affect this shopping area
  • There will be a focus on building on the success of independent shops, particularly around the North Parade area. But 500 new homes will be incorporated too, with the area being promoted for ‘city living’
  • In Simes Street, the former Rawson Market and a car park still in use would be earmarked for a mixed use development, mainly 200 homes
  • The Stone Street car park would be earmarked for 20 new homes
  • Highpont, the former Yorkshire Building Society headquarters, would be turned into 80 new homes, through either redeveloping the existing building or building a new one
  • The site of a vacant mill and shed in Tetley Street, now used as a car park, would house 100 homes. The two remaining buildings, The Cottage and The Sun, would stay.

AREA 3: THE VALLEY (GOITSIDE)

  • This area would be the ‘focus of city living’, with 1,650 new homes
  • The now-demolished gas works in Thornton Road, now being used as a car park, would be redeveloped as an ‘iconic gateway’ to the city centre, with 400 new homes, and would be suitable for tall buildings
  • The former Provident Financial headquarters and car park would have a further 400 new homes, as well as supporting shops and leisure facilities
  • Two council-owned pay and display car parks, Wigan Street and Randall Well Street (formerly the Alexandra Hotel), would make way for 120 and 100 homes respectively
  • Homes could be built on the site of a stone reclamation yard in Thornton Road, the Globus Textiles site in Listerhills Road, and a vacant mill to the rear of Holmfield Court
  • The empty TJ Hughes department store, which is Grade II listed, is expected to be converted into a mixed use building, incorporating homes, shops, offices and leisure facilities. The Standard Buildings in Sunbridge Road, also Grade II listed, could be converted into homes

AREA 4: UNIVERSITY AND COLLEGE CAMPUS AREA

  • Development in this area is likely to include new University and College buildings, as well as student accommodation
  • The plan aims to build on the success of ‘The Green’ student village development
  • A University of Bradford car park in Longside Lane, would be earmarked for development. The buildings would be used either for education or an ancillary use supporting education
  • A second university car park, at Longside Lane and Shearbridge Road, could also be earmarked for development, but only if a University plan to incorporate it into a larger sports pitch area is no longer going ahead
  • A third university car park, in Great Horton Road, would also be earmarked for development, but any buildings should be sympathetic to the open green space to the north

AREA 5: THE BOWL BUSINESS AND LEISURE DISTRICT

  • Fifty new homes would be earmarked for the site of the Wilson Street car park, nearby restaurant and pub. The current buildings’ uses could be retained on the ground floor with upper floors converted to homes
  • The area around the Central Library would be turned into a new ‘cultural expansion zone’, to expand the city’s cultural attractions. The library building would remain. The Odeon would become grade A offices
  • The magistrates’ court and former police station would become phase one of a ‘business forest’, with new-build restaurants and cafes on the ground floor around City Park, and grade A office space above
  • Phase two of the ‘business forest’ would be built on a nearby site, by the junction of Hall Ings and Manchester Road. It is currently home to council offices, a car park and pub.
  • A car park off Exchange Court could host a new Magistrates’ Court, or new offices and homes instead.
  • The former Yorkshire Water depot in George Street, could house 100 new homes, 4,000 sq m of leisure facility floor space and convenience stores. It’s hoped the development would provide a strong landmark feature on the corner of Leeds Road and Shipley Airedale Road.

AREA 6: SOUTHERN GATEWAY

  • A plumber’s merchant, bathroom showroom and car park in Clifford Street would be earmarked for 200 new homes and supporting convenience shops, possibly in a tall building.
  • Tall buildings containing at least 200 homes could be built on a car park used by council employees in Portland Street, next to the Britannia Mill.
  • The Britannia Mill itself could be developed into 80 new homes.
  • The former coal yard and railway siding in Britannia Street would be redeveloped in two phases. Phase one could see an area currently used as a car park for Network Rail and First Bus employees redeveloped into 200 homes.
  • Phase two could see another part of the former coal yard, currently a metalworks, earmarked for 80 new homes.
  • Light industry, measuring 1,000 sq m, would be planned for the site of a garage, car park, and vacant land at Bedford Street.