PLANNING permission for the redevelopment of a Bradford retail park has expired after the scheme failed to materialise within three years of being approved.

In 2014 British Land, the owners of Forster Square Retail Park, revealed plans to make the shopping area more attractive to pedestrians and cyclists by improving links with Bradford city centre, increasing the number of cycle parking spaces, altering the layout of the car park and adding facilities like a customer service building, public toilets and a children’s play area.

The scheme was hailed as a “comprehensive” overhaul of the retail park, and early in 2015 Bradford Council approved the planning application.

One of the conditions of that approval was that work on the site had to begin within three years - a common condition when such plans are approved.

Bradford Council has confirmed to the Telegraph & Argus that the planning permission has now expired.

London-based British Land also has permission to build a major leisure development on the former Royal Mail site next to the retail park. Plans for Forster Square Leisure, which included a cinema, gym and restaurants, were approved in April 2016. Although work has started on the site - the buildings were demolished last year, construction of the new development has yet to begin.

In their application, British Land said the changes to Forster Square Retail were an attempt to shake off the image as a “car only zone.” It said it would create new walkways, street furniture and an “events space.”

There would also be new lighting around the walkway under Hamm Strasse, which links the two sides of the park.

Forster Square includes big name stores such as Asda Living, Currys PC World and JD Sports.

The T&A approached British Land for a comment on the Forster Square Retail plans expiring, but a spokesman only responded to say there was “no update available” from the group.

The T&A has also been asking British Land for an update on the Forster Square Leisure scheme for the past two years, since planning permission was granted, but have yet to receive any updates on when the development might start.

Vall Summerscales, from Bradford Chamber of Trade, said: “We were supportive of their plans to make these improvements, and we’d continue to be supportive of these plans, even if it means them having to put in another application.

“I wonder if they are going to have a re-think of the Royal Mail site and tie any changes at the retail park in with that.”