Bradford markets could merge to ensure they survive

9:00am Saturday 26th January 2013 in News Photograph of the Author By Jo Winrow, City Hall Reporter

Kirkgate Market Kirkgate Market

Regeneration bosses at Bradford Council believe the city will be unlikely to sustain two separate indoor markets once the Broadway shopping centre development is open.

As a result, the Oastler Shopping Centre and Kirkgate Market would become one – at a undecided location.

Options include using either market site or a new central location between the Westfield development and the Kirkgate Centre. This latter option would enable a combined market to take advantage of changing shopping habits caused by the shopping centre which is likely to concentrate people in the city’s core shopping area.

Council markets manager Colin Wolstenholme has outlined the three possibilities for a combined market:

  • Oastler Centre site: the centre could be enlarged and modernised with the area to the rear as a possible development opportunity. This would allow the Council to create an international market-style venue but would involve the Council vacating the Kirkgate Market lease, which is on a peppercorn rent for 125 years from 1976. Without a tenant break clause this could involve a payment to the landlord.
  • Kirkgate Market site: the hall could be enlarged and modernised by creating a mezzanine floor. This would place the markets more centrally within the city centre and minimise the effects of the likely loss in footfall as and when the Westfield scheme starts trading. Although the Council owns the freehold of the Oastler Shopping Centre, this option would require a new user to take on the building, although the external shops would be unaffected.
  • Relocation to new site: this would require the construction of a new modern market but would have the advantage of less disruption to the working markets as it could be built on a vacant site or use a vacant building. The location would need to be a central one.

In a report to the authority’s regeneration and economy overview and scrutiny committee, Mr Wolstenholme states: “Whilst it is acknowledged that the retail offer within the Westfield scheme will be different from the markets offer it is important that the markets continue to attract new customers as well as maintaining its existing customer base. It is these new customers that may choose to shop in the Westfield centre rather than choosing to walk through the city centre to the markets area.

“Customer footfall, and ultimately shopping habits, following the construction of the Westfield Shopping Centre may likely change and concentrate in the core shopping areas focusing in the retail areas between the Westfield development and the Kirkgate Centre.”

A detailed report on the issue is expected to be produced in 12 months.

Comments(25)

Thee Voice of Reason says...
9:04am Sat 26 Jan 13

No need to worry as Broadway/Westfield won't be open anytime soon.

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Joedavid says...
9:28am Sat 26 Jan 13

There is already an empty unused market hall behind the John Street Market. ( Like the way you call it a Shopping Centre, T&A.)
So if the Westfield is ever built and open it seems our Council now waking up to the fact it will effect the rest of the City centre.
A thought occurs take space in Westfield for the markets and help Westfield get started.

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Truth77 says...
9:35am Sat 26 Jan 13

Its a Joke that the markets close at 5pm just when most workers in the city centre finish work and then cannot shop there and go elswhere that have more modern and friendly opening hours, Typical of Bradford council though as there usually 10 years behind most big towns,

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Not so simple says...
9:40am Sat 26 Jan 13

What a joke. John St is a called a shopping centre?

Kirkgate would probably be die out as the new Westfield shopping centre ever opens.

Not to worry....this is going to take years and if the council have anything to do with it,then it will take decades if you are lucky.

The council has planned the death of Kirkgate for years along with the relocation and merger of John st market. Where exactly is this new super shopping enterprise going to be built? Bye Bye to the top half of the city centre, the council has earmarked you to die a slow painfully embarssing death.

It'll take years to rebuild the Kirkgate and John st markets as a merger with loads of consultations,dinner
s and events promoting this great blundering idea.

Most cities have two or three decent spec shopping centres and couple of market/John st type markets....the forward thinking buffoons at the council are going to merge ours into one big dump.

I urge the people of Bradford to get up their lazy chicken and chops backsides and meet the councillors and demand that no such nonsense will take place without a thorough think...people of Bradford think not the the councillors.

They have ruined this city. If I could I would abandon ship now rather then wait for all the shops to close, no jobs for the future kids, no real improvement just ruin.

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Avro says...
9:50am Sat 26 Jan 13

I reckon that this move is already a done deal and that this news is just a taster.
Morrisons have been itching to expand into John Street/Oastler for years, but the Council has always refused to give ground until now!

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Joedavid says...
9:59am Sat 26 Jan 13

Avro wrote:
I reckon that this move is already a done deal and that this news is just a taster.
Morrisons have been itching to expand into John Street/Oastler for years, but the Council has always refused to give ground until now!
Of course you might be right, but that does not fit the overall plans given recently on Morrisons expansion plans of opening small stores throughout the country, like Tesco, Asda and Sainsburys done over the years.
I would think Morrison would copy Tesco and have an Express type like the Tesco in Sunbridge Road, thus less space at John Street or new location, Westfield?

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mad matt says...
10:05am Sat 26 Jan 13

James Street (the old fish market) closed years ago and moved into the new Rawson market, then John Street Market closed for refurbishment and went into the new Rawson Market.
Kirkgate market (Arndale) has remained more or less unchanged.
There was a small market down on Broadway at one time, but that closed years ago.
Then the new Rawson market was shut down and abandoned and the stallholders moved back into John St. market, which became the Ostler 'shopping centre'.
That is now half empty, there are empty stalls in the Arndale market, the Rawson Market is still sitting there un-used - surely it does make sense to site the market in one place, but if it's down the bottom of town, that will starve all the shopkeepers of footfall at the top of town. if it's at the top of town, that splits the shopping area into two with a steep hill between them.
What effect Westfield will have when it opens, I dread to think.
Perhaps it would be better to use the Westfield site for a new central railway station, with a mountain railway up to John Street, perhaps they could use the rolling stock from the Shipley Glen Tramway !!!!!

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Avro says...
10:10am Sat 26 Jan 13

I'm quite sure that Morri's would jump at the chance of expanding into John St.

Not being able to do so was the very reason why they anounced that Westgate was to close and the unit was put the unit up for let but had no takers, and following an outcry of them moving out, Morri's opted to hang onto it and it was then refurbed.

Fact is that Morris are space limited at Westgate. An with talk of closoing John St, I can now see this expansion coming about.

A sole market site sounds a good idea, and to hand over the Kirkgate market space to have more shop units rather than market stalls, most of which have fallen empty.

But where would the new market be, possibly the M&S old unit once they move into Westfield?

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vikksy says...
10:51am Sat 26 Jan 13

More free buses to combine all markets. One as is now, and one direct to John St. These will cover Westfield, Foster sq retail. John St and Godwin St. Everyone happy.

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bcfc1903 says...
11:00am Sat 26 Jan 13

I think the best idea would be to close the Kirkgate market and extend the retail shops in there as is mentioned. The Oastler centre is a long way from the proposed Wesfield shopping development...maybe a frequent free bus facillity would be more realistic and cost effective running every five minutes between Westfield, Kirkgate and the Oastler centre..

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informer says...
11:04am Sat 26 Jan 13

There are some very good ideas on this thread. Let’s hope someone from City Hall reads them. Mind you they most probably will and do something completely different. Do you think they all work for Leeds Council now and it’s all a big plan to completely destroy Bradford and send everyone to Leeds?
It would also explain why they set up the new bus service to Leeds.

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Albion. says...
11:10am Sat 26 Jan 13

Why not put the markets IN the Westfield development, it's probably the only chance to get it anywhere near full of tenants?
Interesting that the council are now coming to accept what many of us have been saying for years, that the Westfield development (if built) would have a detrimental effect on many other businesses and not just those who re-locate.

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bcfc1903 says...
12:22pm Sat 26 Jan 13

I don't believe getting more footfall into Bradford via Westfield would necessarily be detrimental to other parts of the city centre. Free buses would help transport those that don't wish to walk to the top of town. Personally and as a family...we like to walk from Kirkgate up to North Parade...but of course the proposed Westfield site is considerably further and those not as mobile would need transport..hence the free bus idea.

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bhuna156 says...
12:28pm Sat 26 Jan 13

Knock down the part of Broadway where HMV and Yorkshire Bank is and build a new market there.

The remaining businesses can be relocated elsewhere in the city.

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dontbedaft says...
12:33pm Sat 26 Jan 13

I said it before and i will say it again could the last person leaving Bradford please leave the key under the mat.

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scanipoos says...
12:45pm Sat 26 Jan 13

Just CLOSE Bradford down, Full stop.

It would have been a different matter had the old Kirkgate market still been in situ. But then you look at what the business rates are and you realise Thats it. Who can afford to pay £600 a month on top Of the rent Any new bushiness doesn't stand a chance . That why so many are illegal

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bcfc1903 says...
12:52pm Sat 26 Jan 13

The expense of building a new Market Building at the bottom of town will make this idea hard to bring to fruition... unless as someone else mentioned .. Morrisons wants to expand it's store on Westgate.. then the idea could work...with the monies Morrisons would pay for the Oastler building being use by Bradford Council to finance the proposed new Market Building at the bottom of town...it'll be interesting to see if that is the plan.

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bhuna156 says...
1:27pm Sat 26 Jan 13

dontbedaft wrote:
I said it before and i will say it again could the last person leaving Bradford please leave the key under the mat.
anyone who says that or similar deserves a poke in the eye.

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Patrick Bateman says...
2:50pm Sat 26 Jan 13

No comment from the Council about the 'other' markets operating in Bradford (namely the illegally operating 'bazaars')? One can't help but wonder to what extent their illegal competitive advantage has had on the 'legit' markets which has led to this review/proposal.

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Mr Bradford says...
12:08am Sun 27 Jan 13

Move the shops and stalls in the Kirkgate Market into the Oastler Centre or elsewhere in the city, then transform Kirkgate Market into a food court similar to the one at White Rose.

Seems daft building another Market a bit nearer to Westfield when there's nothing wrong with the Oastler Centre... and all 3 centres will be close enough to each other unless you're a lazy git!

Plus it will spread footfall out all around the city.

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Makollig Jezvahted says...
3:18am Sun 27 Jan 13

Bunch of weasel words with no meaning. No worries, the t&a will always put a positive spin on anything the council says. Backhanders anyone'?

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Pondlover says...
9:55am Sun 27 Jan 13

Westfield will not happen, I am surprised some are still clinging on, really, how much evidence do you need to come to sensible conclusion?

The markets are one of the few retail facilities I use, I know I can get what I want there. High & medium quality retailers are not and will not open in Bradford, so, IMO it is too risky to vacate the upper Kirkgate, if that remained empty for long (and I believe it certainly would) it would have a negative impact on the rest of the centre.

Pre-let the upper and yes, great, a bigger and better market would be ideal but otherwise, move it into Kirkgate.

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MontyLeMar says...
12:29pm Sun 27 Jan 13

Whatever is decided it should reflect the fact that the internet is rapidly growing as many people prefer to do their shopping from the comfort of their home and visiting High Street shops is becoming less popular. Why should people visit the High Street in Bradford when just a 20 minute train ride away you are in Leeds and you have a shopping heaven, if you like that sort of thing. The internet is changing the face of the High Street and overall there is a need for fewer shops. Sadly Bradford looks like it will be one of those cities which loses out to the big cities like Leeds and talk of prestigious developments like Westfield Broadway is really just wishful thinking - wishing that the internet didn't exist, wishing that the per capita disposable income of the average Bradfordian wasn't half that of a Leeds person. However, there will always be a need for Pound shops, Bookies and PayDay Loan shops in Bradford but whether you can build a whole shopping experience around them I don't know.

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sorrow&anger says...
12:49am Mon 28 Jan 13

Apart from the moral and social considerations of whether City Hall should be putting small traders out of business to suit the convenience of the big chains, why is it only now that we are being told about the market closures?

Have the Council just worked out what the consequences of Westfield will be, or have they known all along and kept quiet about it? In any other city we'd be asking conspiracy or ****-up, but no such trouble in Bradford; it's incompetence as usual.

It also looks as the Council are getting rid of one hole in the ground only to create two others. Truly wonderful. When is this once great city of ours going to be properly managed?

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bradmat says...
6:43pm Mon 28 Jan 13

Bradfords markets are ****. Just have a central car boot sale. Probably have better goods and nicer people to deal with

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