A SCHEME to illuminate a previously uninviting part of Bradford has beaten London’s Oxford Street in a national contest.

St Blaise Square, next to Forster Square rail station, was named Outdoor Lighting Project of the Year at the Lux Awards - which recognises major lighting projects.

It was up against thought competition in its category - not only beating the London street, which has become a tourist attraction due to its Christmas lights, but also Nottingham’s Biocity and the Vicarage Gate House in the Kensington area of the capital.

The win means the square has been judged the best public realm lighting project in the country.

The judges cited the lighting for its ‘transformational’ quality providing a safe, clean and attractive environment while giving people a “warm and colourful welcoming experience.”

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

Trees and a section of the large wall in the square are also lit up, and the lighting provides a backdrop to the 1997 sculpture called Fibre, which is in the centre of the square and is constructed from old railway lines and references fibre-optic cables.

The colours of the lights can be altered for different occasions, and have seen the arches bathed in claret and amber when Bradford City legend Bobby Campbell died last year and were recently purple to mark World Prematurity Day raising awareness of premature birth.

This weekend they will be will be white, red, yellow and black to mark the Women of the World Festival being held in the city centre, and next weekend they will be turned all white to mark international White Ribbon Day, which encourages men and boys to pledge not to commit violence against women.

Councillor Alex Ross-Shaw, Executive for Regeneration, Planning and Transport said: “The combination of the heritage arches and the innovative technology used makes the whole area a pleasant thoroughfare for our commuters and those visiting the city centre to shop and eat.

“I’m delighted that this project has been recognised in this way and I’d like to thank the staff for all their hard work.”

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

The site was identified as needing a refurbishment as it offered a poor impression to those arriving in the city by train. The changes were funded through the City Centre Growth Scheme, and sixty four in-ground LEDs were installed in the arches, walls and a raised planter. New paving was also installed.