Today marks the final day of operation for the company set up to drive through Bradford’s regeneration.

After a nine-month handover period, Bradford Centre Regeneration (BCR) has now officially transferred its activities to Bradford Council, bringing an end to the regeneration company’s six-year existence.

Removal men were yesterday loading desks and filing cabinets into a van outside BCR’s offices at Broadway House, Bank Street, Bradford.

The company has played a part in some of Bradford’s most hotly-debated developments, spearheading plans for a mirror-pool City Park and running a designer-developer competition for the redevelopment of the former Odeon cinema.

BCR chief executive Maud Marshall said regeneration would now move into a new phase.

She said: “Over the past months, I have been working closely with BCR’s three key partners – the Council, Yorkshire Forward and the Homes & Communities Agency – to ensure that the priority projects for the regeneration of the city centre continue to progress.

“During my time in Bradford, BCR has successfully put in place a clear strategy of attracting private sector investment and positioning the city, creating a comprehensive regeneration framework.

“I now pass the reins to Barra Mac Ruairi, strategic director of regeneration, and Mike Cowlam, assistant director of regeneration, at the Council and the new team within his department.

“The Council will build on the success of BCR in engaging the private sector in a clear vision for the regeneration of the city, in building strong public/private partnerships, in attracting developer interest, in promoting design quality, and in positioning the city centre regionally, nationally and internationally.”

The Council’s executive member for regeneration, Councillor Adrian Naylor, said: “Following the handover and the hard work that has gone in over the last few years, it’s now time for the people of Bradford to see some of the benefits and part of that is the delivery of the City Park, which is happening now.”

Since its creation in March 2003, BCR has spent more than £35 million of public money on land assembly, property maintenance and infrastructure works. Over that time, the company also had operating costs of about £6m, with salaries accounting for more than £3.5m of that.

Funding partners say public sector investment through BCR has facilitated £180m being invested by the private sector in property development in Bradford. Meanwhile, £340m of private sector commercial property transactions have taken place, £484m of private sector property development has started and schemes totalling a further £711m of investment have been given planning permission.