A PROJECT that has transformed one of the gateways into Bradford city centre will compete against London’s famous Oxford Street in a national contest.

St Blaise Square, next to Forster Square rail station, has been nominated for a Lux Award - which recognise the best lighting projects in the country.

Last year LED lighting was installed in the series of 10 large railway archways in the square as part of a series of improvements to Bradford city centre.

The colours of the lights can be changed depending on the occasion such as when the arches were bathed in claret and amber when Bradford City legend Bobby Campbell died last year.

The project has now been nominated in the Outdoor Lighting Project of the Year category at the awards, and will be competing against Nottingham Biocity, Vicarage Gate House in London and Oxford Street in London, a street famous for its Christmas lights.

Judges came to see the arches for themselves on Monday evening, and described the visit as “really enjoyable.”

Bradford Council will find out if they have won the award in November.

Before the lights were installed, the arches were considered unwelcoming and giving a poor first impression of the city to those arriving by train.

Since the lights were first turned on, coinciding with the Forest of Light event in City Park in October, the square has become popular on social media, and with organisations and charities, which regularly ask the council to display their colours. The square was recently lit purple for the National Pancreatic Foundation and on Friday will be lit pink to mark the 10th anniversary of Impressions Gallery coming to Bradford.

The lights are timed to come on at dusk, and go off after the last train leaves Forster Square.

Funded through the City Centre Growth Scheme, the project has seen sixty four in-ground LEDs installed in the arches, walls and a raised planter. New paving was also installed.

Councillor Alex Ross-Shaw, Executive for Regeneration, Planning and Transport said: “Since the introduction of the lighting, the whole area is a more pleasant thoroughfare for our commuters and those visiting the city centre to shop and eat. The innovative use of light deserves applause and the judge was very complimentary following his visit, so hopes are high that we will see this scheme win the Outdoor Lighting Project of The Year in November.”