A "BOLD" ten-year plan to drive forward regeneration in Bradford city centre has been unveiled by Council bosses.

A new film production hub for the city, better road and rail links and the "reinvention" of the Thornton Road university and college area are all on the cards over the next decade.

The Bradford City Plan also brings together much-publicised plans for a redeveloped Odeon, a refurbished St George's Hall, a new city-centre pool and a retail academy.

The city centre will be maintained to the "highest standards", with more privately run and commercially sponsored events and facilities.

But with public sector funds shrinking, the plan stresses the important role the private sector will play in making it all happen.

Bradford Council leader David Green said: "We need a City Plan as whilst the Council will continue to have an important leadership and regulatory role in many of the projects, it is likely that an increasing number will be delivered through partners and the private sector as public sector funding reduces.

"It is a ten-year plan and it will be adapted as progress is made."

The plan will concentrate on five key locations: the 'independent quarter' at the top of town, the Forster Square and cathedral area, Thornton Road's 'learning quarter', City Park's business and culture cluster and the city centre retail and leisure area.

It highlights the need to find new uses for vacant buildings, including bringing older buildings back into use as well as revitalising the high street and building new homes.

The plan was drawn up by the council with help from organisations such as Bradford College, the University of Bradford, transport authority Metro and lobbying and networking groups Bradford Breakthrough and Bradford Matters.

Colin Philpott, chief executive of Bradford Breakthrough, said: "The City Plan is a bold plan for the medium- to long-term further regeneration of the centre of Bradford as a place for people to do business, to learn, to visit and to live.

"It offers an ambitious but realistic vision for taking the city centre forward and includes some exciting ideas.

"The challenge now is for all of us to work with the council to make it happen."

Dr Mohammed Iqbal, founder and vice chairman of Bradford Matters, said: "The development of the city centre has been one of the top priorities for Bradford Matters and so we welcome the City Plan as a professional and visionary document that will lead to tangible and visible results."

The plan will be discussed by Bradford Council's Executive on Tuesday, February 10, at City Hall.

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