Westfield confirms Broadway shopping centre plans for 2013

The latest map showing the Westfield development and city centre. Key: 1 Kirkgate Centre; 2 Forster Square Station; 3 Cathedral Quarter; 4 Little Germany; 5 Leisure Exchange; 6 Bradford Interchange; 7 City Park The latest map showing the Westfield development and city centre. Key: 1 Kirkgate Centre; 2 Forster Square Station; 3 Cathedral Quarter; 4 Little Germany; 5 Leisure Exchange; 6 Bradford Interchange; 7 City Park

Australian developer Westfield has reiterated its intention to start work on the £260 million Broadway shopping centre in Bradford city centre later this year.

Announcing its annual results for 2012, which saw Westfield boost global profits by 18.3 per cent to £1.16 billion, joint chief executive Steven Lowy said the group anticipated new developments of up to £1bn in 2013 would include the Bradford site.

Meanwhile, an application has been made to Bradford Council planners to create a larger two-storey glazed shopfront at the Lower Kirkgate entrance to the Broadway development to replace a single-storey shopfront already been agreed.

The application is believed to be on behalf of a major retailer already signed up to the scheme.

It follows Bradford Council’s recent approval for Westfield anchor tenant Debenhams to increase its sales floors from two to three.

In October a deal designed to kickstart the project was also confirmed – involving the site being sold to a specialist real estate investment management firm, London-based Meyer Bergman.

It involves Meyer Bergman owning the site and appointing Westfield to develop, design, construct and lease the new shopping centre.

Duncan Bower, Westfield director of development, said planning permission for an expanded Debenhams store was an important milestone. He said the latest bid for the enlarged shop front by ‘a major retailer’ was another step towards getting the development off the ground.

Westfield Group joint chief executives, brothers Peter and Steven Lowy, said 2012 had been a significant year for the group, with a good performance in line with expectations.

Steven Lowy said: “Our strategy is to develop and own superior retail destinations in major cities by integrating food, fashion, leisure and entertainment using technology to better connect retailers with consumers. We aim to operate our centres at the highest standards and efficiency to create assets that are highly productive, have strong franchise value and have the ability to attract leading retail brands.”

 

Comments(45)

Shipleyvegas says...
7:57am Fri 1 Mar 13

I'll believe it when I see it.

Apollo says...
8:07am Fri 1 Mar 13

Jackanory, jackanory.

Never going to happen.

Pity Poor Bradford says...
8:10am Fri 1 Mar 13

In other news, Sainsburys to start work on their supermarket in Bingley sometime "in the near future".

razzmatazz says...
8:10am Fri 1 Mar 13

So they keep saying! Less talk, more action!

thatsnotmyname says...
8:11am Fri 1 Mar 13

No news here...move along.

Corporal says...
8:13am Fri 1 Mar 13

In other news scientist have discovered a flying pig and it will be pulling santas sleigh as rudolphs replacement

johnbradford1 says...
8:25am Fri 1 Mar 13

If you believe this. You will believe anything. The only true thing is that our Council could not organise a booze up in a brewery with free beer!!!!!

Avro says...
8:49am Fri 1 Mar 13

Who honeslty believes a word that these clowns say?

Clearly Westfield have NOT yet acquired the minimum number of pre-lets, otherwise they would anounce a start date!

I intend to go shopping today, but then I might not, which just about sums up the commitment from Westfield!

Over in Leeds, the plans for the Eastgate Quarter shopping centre have just been revelead and a start date anounced of Spring 2014....Hear that Westfield an anouncement of progress, where is your progress??!

webess says...
9:15am Fri 1 Mar 13

Maybe the Bantams getting to league cup final reminded Westfield we're still here.

collos25 says...
9:33am Fri 1 Mar 13

Who are Westfield just remind me.

Thee Voice of Reason says...
9:48am Fri 1 Mar 13

"Westfield has reiterated its intention"

Stopped reading after that bit. No substance to this story.

Cityman23 says...
10:12am Fri 1 Mar 13

That's good news, if its true and hopefully it will be.

Whatever happens, Bradford Council must never again arrange such a project without including penalty clauses in the contracts, for failure to commence/'move things along' in a sensible timescale!

bctomuk2 says...
10:17am Fri 1 Mar 13

Extract from Westfields Annual Financial Report within the Directors’ Report (page 2).

For 2013, the Group expects to commence between $1.25 billion and
$1.5 billion of new developments. Developments are anticipated to commence at Miranda in Sydney,
Mt Gravatt in Brisbane and at Bradford in the United Kingdom.....

http://www.westfield
.com/corporate/pdf/n
ews-announcements/pr
esentations-briefing
s/AR12%20Group%20Fin
ancials_FINAL.pdf?bc
si_scan_C379C95DEA5F
90B3=0&bcsi_scan_fil
ename=AR12%20Group%2
0Financials_FINAL.pd
f

Scargutt2 says...
10:19am Fri 1 Mar 13

And in other news, i've just seen a pig in the departure lounge at the airport. These Wastefield jokers just love making half hearted announcements and teeing themselves up for another bashing from the Bradford public don't they?

What will we do if it's ever built? I certainly like mocking them more than I like shopping so the longer they leave it the better for me.

MontyLeMar says...
10:26am Fri 1 Mar 13

The Broadway shopping centre has been on Westfield's web site for the past 8 years and it has always been their intention to build it. It could just as easily be their intention to build it in 2018 but it doesn't make it any more certain that it will be built. Meanwhile Bradford has a rusting hole in its heart and more and more shops are closing down.

Albion. says...
10:41am Fri 1 Mar 13

Personally I don't care whether they build it or not (but I think they will). I just don't see it as a panacea for Bradford's ills, but I would agree that it needs completing, one way or the other.

Avro says...
10:58am Fri 1 Mar 13

It might not be the pancea for all of Bradford's ill's, but the build will go a long way in starting to address its ill's, and for starters bring a little hope back to the city.

Andy2010 says...
11:11am Fri 1 Mar 13

Avro wrote:
It might not be the pancea for all of Bradford's ill's, but the build will go a long way in starting to address its ill's, and for starters bring a little hope back to the city.
I doubt it....

All it will do is be full of sub standard shops frequented by the low lifes of Bradford...just like the Arndale

In other news Trinity Walk is now finished despite starting after Westfield

Mo Bradford says...
11:20am Fri 1 Mar 13

SEEING IS BELIEVING!!! LOL :)

Nevertheless, if this is true and it goes ahead then it is a starting point for Bradford.

Also lessons to be learnt by the whole mess, delays, costs and frustration.

Outraged English Subject says...
11:29am Fri 1 Mar 13

I do hope this is true it'll be a good start for Bradford.

Biggus Dickus says...
12:37pm Fri 1 Mar 13

Come on, get on with it! Im 50 next month & wouldnt mind seeing this built b4 i bite the dust !

Mr Bradford says...
1:32pm Fri 1 Mar 13

Isn't this is the first time Westfield have announced a building date? before it's just been the council telling us what we want to hear, so I'm feeling slightly optimistic about it now.

Once this is built we'll have a very decent city centre.

Not so simple says...
1:35pm Fri 1 Mar 13

You cannot make this up.

The plot of land has been sold to a company in London.

The London company will get Westfield to develop it and lease it out once it's built etc.

Contemplate ;

Bradford council is local government, yet it sees fit to pass out work and sell assets to outsiders to develop and organise our city centre.

Why cannot the planning,procurement
,development,regen departments do this work in house in Bradford?....I would suggest that this local government has failed in its duty and ability to govern the people it was elected by.

Bradford council is not fit for purpose.
How much more proof do you need?

The Hoffster says...
1:41pm Fri 1 Mar 13

Can we see the plans for the last 9 years and the next 9?

I'm sure there'll be a massive difference somewhere...

mad matt says...
2:27pm Fri 1 Mar 13

I think that pig just crash-landed. It was flying backwards to keep all the s##t out of it's eyes!

Makollig Jezvahted says...
2:28pm Fri 1 Mar 13

'anticipate', 'intention', 'believed to be', 'step towards' - all weasel words that mean nothing. Very nice of the T&A to let Westfield's chief exec to get in his corporate bull$hit company vison statement at the end though. Wonder how much he paid them for that.

webess says...
2:29pm Fri 1 Mar 13

Cityman23 wrote:
That's good news, if its true and hopefully it will be.

Whatever happens, Bradford Council must never again arrange such a project without including penalty clauses in the contracts, for failure to commence/'move things along' in a sensible timescale!
This penalty clause business is often misunderstood.

Put simply, Bradford Council aren't a party to the Westfield contract and hence can't be in a position to claim penalties.

OutOfBradford says...
2:30pm Fri 1 Mar 13

ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha

bradfordian says...
3:02pm Fri 1 Mar 13

Andy 2010 are you highlife, whatever that means? You describe people who use The Arndale as 'low lifes. Do you know the people who use The Arndale? If not, if you have not got anything good to say don't say nothing.
'.

Outraged English Subject says...
3:34pm Fri 1 Mar 13

?

pww of idle says...
3:40pm Fri 1 Mar 13

If it's ever built it will be too late as most people now shop in Leeds , Harrogate , Wakefield , Huddersfield , Halifax , York or any place other than "BRATFUD" & have got use to seeing retail shops elsewhere . As previously stated , obviously WESTFIELD are not able to "encourage"
the majority of Retail Companies to come to this "Jewel of W.Yks."

wingerman11 says...
4:16pm Fri 1 Mar 13

Mr Bradford wrote:
Isn't this is the first time Westfield have announced a building date? before it's just been the council telling us what we want to hear, so I'm feeling slightly optimistic about it now.

Once this is built we'll have a very decent city centre.
Only you Reno could think Westfields statement constitutes an actual building date!
Its the same old same old spiel about "we intend to start building this year" "we remain committed" and all the guff they have been spouting for the last 8 years.
Last time we had a "firm" date was when your old mate Adrian Naylor went on Look North and said Westfield would be onsite in February 2012. Remember that?

Avro says...
5:01pm Fri 1 Mar 13

Actually it was Ian Greenwood the ex leader of the Council

Rambo says...
6:07pm Fri 1 Mar 13

Avro wrote:
Actually it was Ian Greenwood the ex leader of the Council
It was. lolololol didn't he squirm that night?

"When will work begin?"
"er...um...soon..."
"how soon?"
"ahhh...uu.. in the near future..."

etc

nowt fresh says...
7:08pm Fri 1 Mar 13

Westfield jumping on the Bradford City Wembley feel good factor?? well maybe not ;-)).

Mr Bradford says...
9:05pm Fri 1 Mar 13

Andy2010 wrote:
Avro wrote:
It might not be the pancea for all of Bradford's ill's, but the build will go a long way in starting to address its ill's, and for starters bring a little hope back to the city.
I doubt it....

All it will do is be full of sub standard shops frequented by the low lifes of Bradford...just like the Arndale

In other news Trinity Walk is now finished despite starting after Westfield
the definition of a "low life" should be someone who goes on the internet to insult people they don't even know.

Avro says...
9:07pm Fri 1 Mar 13

Rambo wrote:
Avro wrote:
Actually it was Ian Greenwood the ex leader of the Council
It was. lolololol didn't he squirm that night?

"When will work begin?"
"er...um...soon..."
"how soon?"
"ahhh...uu.. in the near future..."

etc
Indeed he did, and Mr Green is no different.
The only thing these guys are well versed in is BS

Mr Bradford says...
9:09pm Fri 1 Mar 13

pww of idle wrote:
If it's ever built it will be too late as most people now shop in Leeds , Harrogate , Wakefield , Huddersfield , Halifax , York or any place other than "BRATFUD" & have got use to seeing retail shops elsewhere . As previously stated , obviously WESTFIELD are not able to "encourage"
the majority of Retail Companies to come to this "Jewel of W.Yks."
Wrong. The fact is more money is spent in Bradford than in Harrogate, Wakefield, Huddersfield and Halifax.

Mr Bradford says...
9:15pm Fri 1 Mar 13

wingerman11 wrote:
Mr Bradford wrote:
Isn't this is the first time Westfield have announced a building date? before it's just been the council telling us what we want to hear, so I'm feeling slightly optimistic about it now.

Once this is built we'll have a very decent city centre.
Only you Reno could think Westfields statement constitutes an actual building date!
Its the same old same old spiel about "we intend to start building this year" "we remain committed" and all the guff they have been spouting for the last 8 years.
Last time we had a "firm" date was when your old mate Adrian Naylor went on Look North and said Westfield would be onsite in February 2012. Remember that?
Show me where Westfield themselves said they would be on site in Feb 2012.

Rambo says...
10:49pm Fri 1 Mar 13

"Show me where Westfield themselves said they would be on site
in Feb 2012."

The below PDF from November 2011 says:

"Westfield is looking to start construction work in early 2012. The Council is working closely with Westfield to bring forward the amended scheme which, if this timetable is kept to, is planned to be “open for business” within the next 2-3 years"

http://www.investinb
radford.com/Resource
s/Invest%20In%20Brad
ford/Develop%20Bradf
ord/8%20WESTFIELD%20
BRADFORD%20%20%20%20
%20%20%20%2018%2011%
202011.pdf

The fact Westfields logo, imagery and a contact name and details are on it imply thats their info and they had no problem in it being publicised.

Mr Perks says...
12:01am Sat 2 Mar 13

webess wrote:
Maybe the Bantams getting to league cup final reminded Westfield we're still here.
Well, if City can get to the final of a major national cup competition at Wembley, I now believe that anything can happen in this world. Though BCFC winning the Champion's League is probably about as likely as Westfield being completed.

wingerman11 says...
12:16am Sat 2 Mar 13

Mr Bradford wrote:
pww of idle wrote:
If it's ever built it will be too late as most people now shop in Leeds , Harrogate , Wakefield , Huddersfield , Halifax , York or any place other than "BRATFUD" & have got use to seeing retail shops elsewhere . As previously stated , obviously WESTFIELD are not able to "encourage"
the majority of Retail Companies to come to this "Jewel of W.Yks."
Wrong. The fact is more money is spent in Bradford than in Harrogate, Wakefield, Huddersfield and Halifax.
I doubt more money is spent in SHOPS in Bradford than in Wakefield, though it should be, as Bradford must be 2 or 3 times bigger than Wakefield, and 8 times bigger than Harrogate!
And are your rose tinted specs telling you that the shopping experience is actually better in Bradford than Leeds, Harrogate, Wakefield, Huddersfield and Halifax, when everybody else knows only too well it isnt!

collos25 says...
8:12pm Sat 2 Mar 13

More money is spent in retail in Bradford than Harrogate where did those figures come from "Noddy goes shopping"

Mike Shipley says...
2:54pm Tue 5 Mar 13

The buildings that were there needed to be torn down to open up to Little Germany and create space. The Old Town Hall is a fantastic building and deserves to be shown off. OK half a jobs been done. But that means only half a jobs is left to do. It should be easy for decent builders of which Westfield needs to earn its reputation in the eyes of many Bradford people. Forster square shows a lot of interest in shopping in Bradford. The economy is a problem but it is for every country in the world.

Mike Shipley says...
2:55pm Tue 5 Mar 13

"A little less conversation a little more action please" as Elvis would say

click2find

About cookies

We want you to enjoy your visit to our website. That's why we use cookies to enhance your experience. By staying on our website you agree to our use of cookies. Find out more about the cookies we use.

I agree