Bosses working with Bradford Council over mothballed centre (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)
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Bosses working with Bradford Council over mothballed centre
9:44am Monday 15th March 2010 in
Australian developer Westfield has confirmed it intends to open up its mothballed Broadway shopping centre site in Bradford city centre as a temporary public space.
If Bradford Council proposals are agreed much of the ten-acre site will be converted into a park or meadow until economic conditions improve.
Peter Miller, Westfield’s UK operating officer, said yesterday: “We are working with the Council on how to tidy up the site and make it more presentable. We are looking to find an interim use until the market changes and find a way to take the development forward.
“If the Council’s proposals are accepted, the site could become a public park or wild meadow. No owner or developer benefits from a redundant eyesore.”
Mike Cowlam, Bradford Council’s assistant director for regeneration, said: “The Council and Westfield share the frustration of local people and businesses about the site standing vacant in the city centre, and are looking at alternative temporary uses.
“Given the economic climate, it is unrealistic to expect development work to start in the near future, although Westfield and the Council remain committed to the scheme. Obviously the area is a construction site and we will need to be sure that the proposals taken forward make the ground safe for everyone.”
Both parties are working with other groups in the city to develop proposals for the stalled £320m shopping centre. Ideas include the creation of grassed areas, which would involve the hoardings surrounding the site being moved back.
There are also plans to provide seating, footpaths between the city centre and Little Germany, a wild flower meadow, urban allotments and an area for outdoor theatre performances.
Earlier this month Bradford Chamber of Commerce said temporary landscaping of the site on Broadway should be a priority. Following its annual policy priority survey of its 1,100 members, it urged the Council to act quickly.
Council surveyors have been on the site to establish the costs of the temporary scheme while regeneration chiefs are working with bosses of arts development organisation Fabric, which wants to see sculptures around the site, artwork on the hoardings and large art installations in the basement area that could be viewed through Perspex windows.
The proposals are part of the national campaign to let communities use mothballed development sites.
Comments(41)
its-only-me
says...
9:57am Mon 15 Mar 10
nowt fresh
says...
9:58am Mon 15 Mar 10
outside of politics
says...
10:08am Mon 15 Mar 10
hope ther eis room for an outdoor market ifarmers n the spring summer months
scanipoos
says...
10:16am Mon 15 Mar 10
give chance for small businesses to get a foothold on the road to building a business or free parking
Joedavid
says...
10:25am Mon 15 Mar 10
*
Bet that means a very long long time if ever!
*
Regarding the previous posters on who pays, you and me the tax payers of course.
jojo27
says...
10:31am Mon 15 Mar 10
kublakhan
says...
10:33am Mon 15 Mar 10
Well done Bradford Met I'm sure this will keep people from shopping in Leeds! We actually pay these idiot's to run our city!
Mekon
says...
10:49am Mon 15 Mar 10
kublakhan wrote:Yes, but come election time we have the chance to throw out the ruling tories!
Considering the incompetence of our council, it wouldn’t surprise me if the council pay’s rent to Westfield!
Well done Bradford Met I'm sure this will keep people from shopping in Leeds! We actually pay these idiot's to run our city!
albion
says...
10:58am Mon 15 Mar 10
Mekon wrote:And bring back Greenwood presumably.....shees
kublakhan wrote:Yes, but come election time we have the chance to throw out the ruling tories!
Considering the incompetence of our council, it wouldn’t surprise me if the council pay’s rent to Westfield!
Well done Bradford Met I'm sure this will keep people from shopping in Leeds! We actually pay these idiot's to run our city!
h.
How about a big car park and an every ten minutes shuttle bus to Leeds?
Old Peculiar
says...
11:05am Mon 15 Mar 10
Mike Strutter
says...
11:17am Mon 15 Mar 10
Meadows are all well and good and very tranquil in the countryside but this thing has the potential to be full of litter and by the time Westfield build on the land it will be full of weeds so the ongoing maintenance will be at a cost to the tax payer.
Personally I like many others don't think the building will ever commence even when we are have stable growth in the economy.
Westfield have realised they have dropped a rick with this site and ultimately the final nail in the coffin of this site will be for mainly for geographical reasons. Bradford simply can't compete with the Leeds / Manchester power houses as its neighbours.
PHILISAN
says...
11:50am Mon 15 Mar 10
shame about the shops though.
Macca51
says...
12:19pm Mon 15 Mar 10
What a splendid idea. Instead of fox hunting we could have chav hunting. That will provided hours of endless fun and entertainment for all the family!!
Stilladriver
says...
1:05pm Mon 15 Mar 10
Looking at the negativity of the comments on this site, the best thing that could happen is to stop spending any money and just let the city rot.
Perhaps there is merit on the plans for 'Greater Leeds' after all - then Bradford can lose it's identity as a city for ever, and be regarded as a town that those of us in the surrounding areas can deny any connection with whatsoever.
(I don't really believe the above personally - but it appears there are many who would welcome it)
Moon on a stick
says...
1:34pm Mon 15 Mar 10
.
A car park to boost trade and help the remaining retailers survive would be welcomed universally in the city centre, but Westfield won't be interested in saving other businesses so probably wouldn't stomach such a welcome use for the site. The council won't want to reduce it's revenue in car parking fines either so the easy solution is more public realm for the beggers and smackheads to look for spare change targets. Looking on the brightside even many of the beggars get the train to Leeds now.
tyker
says...
2:38pm Mon 15 Mar 10
a nice have for the itinerants to have a peaceful booze and snooze time.
Duke of Odsal
says...
3:29pm Mon 15 Mar 10
Security phrase tediously-cynical!!!
!!
Leighann
says...
5:02pm Mon 15 Mar 10
expatmedic
says...
5:07pm Mon 15 Mar 10
Avro
says...
5:08pm Mon 15 Mar 10
ravacity
says...
5:18pm Mon 15 Mar 10
ants or need a harvey nicks carrier bag then these cities are for you, i always thought yorkshire folk were a bit thrifty with thier cash.
t'old man
says...
5:41pm Mon 15 Mar 10
old speckled hen
says...
6:20pm Mon 15 Mar 10
dead and burried in a medow for drunks and druggies.
webess
says...
6:39pm Mon 15 Mar 10
ravacity wrote:I know a lass worth around £3 million, she does most of her shopping in Bradford. Often at shops like Boyes or B&M.
paid £6.50 parking in leeds for 2 hours and £8 in manchester while working recently, if you like over priced parking,bars,restaur
ants or need a harvey nicks carrier bag then these cities are for you, i always thought yorkshire folk were a bit thrifty with thier cash.
It's the idiots who go to the posh shops like Harvey Nicks
micgrower
says...
7:25pm Mon 15 Mar 10
A good suggestion would be a good old fashioned open market, on say 50% and free 2 hour parking on the rest. No secondhand or counterfiet goods would also deter opportunist theives & rogues from visiting.
A Park that no one would visit and would cost money we do not have should be a non starter. Come on bradford council do not use excuses like Health & Saftey to avoid doing something to help make Bradford worth Visiting/
OdsalMan
says...
7:54pm Mon 15 Mar 10
Haji
says...
8:29pm Mon 15 Mar 10
Despite all the negativity posted here about what should have been and what is not working , I think this is a better use of the space than a massive canyon that serves no purpose. If it can be achieved with minimal cost - then well done to the council!
mad matt
says...
11:19pm Mon 15 Mar 10
Haji wrote:I agree with what you say, but what's the betting that health and safety would stop the vulunteers from creating the park. It would be back to the council run parks department to do the work - at the ratepayers expense. Ya can't win!
With a bit of planning this garden/open space could be achieved with very little cost to anyone. If you asked for volunteers to come forward to make this happen then i am sure there are groups who would be proud to get involved and make a contribution with their skills & spare-time. The flowers and plants can also be donated by the good people of bradford either from cuttings or from seeds they have collected. Despite all the negativity posted here about what should have been and what is not working , I think this is a better use of the space than a massive canyon that serves no purpose. If it can be achieved with minimal cost - then well done to the council!
Bcfc Boyz On Tour
says...
12:23am Tue 16 Mar 10
password hard-miss
thecitygent
says...
6:20am Tue 16 Mar 10
I can just imagine them now. Will such performances include an outddor debating chamber for our elected representatives?
bredandbuttered
says...
9:48am Tue 16 Mar 10
Using mostly recyceable material and sustainable energy in home made wind power, solar power etc. would be an educational project for us all, especially our upper schools.
Lets have a multi cultural market, from local businesses only, and in return those and other businesses and the public could contribute in expertise and spare materials, paint, wood, plants etc etc., and a ready work-force in the long term unemployed and offenders, working alongside volunteer gangers.
Competitions for art pieces and bands/buskers/dance etc, and somewhere to park nearby to bring people back into experiencing Bradford as it was in the Festival Days under Dusty and co.
Come on Bradford, who's ever had a chance like this in their city center??
Do it, and do it with right with the full consultation of the people and business, and cut the red tape or we'll all lose interest from the start.
Get Channel 4 to make a documentary, get our profil back up for the right reasons, all working alongside each other to the same ends.
Invite David Hockney to promote/contribut in some way.
Its not hard to get creative.
kublakhan
says...
12:41pm Tue 16 Mar 10
Mekon wrote:The government continues to waste billions of pounds supporting banks that are busy using the money to plug massive holes in their own balance sheets. They’re not passing this money on to businesses that want or need it! If public money was to prop up private enterprises then it should be used on schemes like this. I for one would have preferred the money have gone to underwrite this development. Local job’s could have been created through the construction phase and hopefully by the time the scheme came to completion we would have been out of the downturn ready to meet the challenges of the future. Instead nothing is going to happen for ages and until it does Bradford RIP!
And who is going to pay for this? Not the Council Tax payer I hope. Security word =thats-rich
Freddy Elliot
says...
4:14pm Tue 16 Mar 10
bredandbuttered
says...
10:09pm Tue 16 Mar 10
Could the T & A please therefore keep this thread alive, perhaps promote and provoke comment, and not leave it to the forum or letters page which is so exclusive?
How about a T & A sponsored research month held on site with free tea coffee and expertise on hand. Go on go go on.
albion
says...
6:30am Wed 17 Mar 10
bredandbuttered wrote:Oh yes grassing over a building project until the developers can actually get some tenants and make a start is probably one of the most important things to happen in the city in the last three decades!
Look my freinds, this is probably one of the most important threads we've had chance to comment on. Where else are we going to have chance? On the Council website, on a questionaire, in the T & A?? Lets then please please keep comments sensible and try to help this through for the right reasons, and hopefully make some impression on those who will decide for us what is to be done.
Could the T & A please therefore keep this thread alive, perhaps promote and provoke comment, and not leave it to the forum or letters page which is so exclusive?
How about a T & A sponsored research month held on site with free tea coffee and expertise on hand. Go on go go on.
THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN A DEADLINE! to either make a start or forget it.
bredandbuttered
says...
11:38am Wed 17 Mar 10
To be honest I think there are enough traders in Bradford without attracting the big stores. I'd rather Bradford was more like Hebden Bridge, lauded for its lack of any chain stores, and Todmorden, with its drive to be a self sufficient market garden, than Leeds with its Harvy Nicks.
We're never going to be Leeds, we're far more the village.
We need desperately to make this village work, to integrate through common spaces and beliefs, not to depersonalise our lives with mindless mega shopping experiences such as Asda Tescos and Comet. Leave them on the outskirts where they can attract Mr and Mrs Bland/I don't have time in my life to walk or talk to anyone.
Think about it. The only growth you see at the moments on Bradford streets at the moment are independant, community serving shops such as the Polish Shops and Asian textiles etc., and great shopping experiences and service they provide too.
This is a chance to steer away from the run of the mill City centre.
albion
says...
12:42pm Wed 17 Mar 10
A Bradford city centre resembling Hebden Bridge would require a population make up similar to that of Hebden Bridge or other Market towns (shops need suitable customers) and that just isnt going to happen.
As for Bradford having enough traders, well maybe it has but they dont cover the variety that people require, hence the mass exodus to surrounding towns every Saturday.
bredandbuttered
says...
4:49pm Wed 17 Mar 10
albion wrote:But its ok not to have almost everything in Bradford, and to travel afield for a nice day out to get your fancy ripped jeans and loft art for your terrace house.
If you want a city centre full of Polish and Asian shops you will just have to be patient and wait until the last of the whites have left. A Bradford city centre resembling Hebden Bridge would require a population make up similar to that of Hebden Bridge or other Market towns (shops need suitable customers) and that just isnt going to happen. As for Bradford having enough traders, well maybe it has but they dont cover the variety that people require, hence the mass exodus to surrounding towns every Saturday.
BTW, the phrase 'the last of the whites' is a big red flag but means nothing. You aren't a spokesman for me.
albion
says...
5:13pm Wed 17 Mar 10
bredandbuttered wrote:I dont live in a terraced house and at my age fancy ripped jeans wouldnt be appropriate or desirable.
albion wrote:But its ok not to have almost everything in Bradford, and to travel afield for a nice day out to get your fancy ripped jeans and loft art for your terrace house.
If you want a city centre full of Polish and Asian shops you will just have to be patient and wait until the last of the whites have left. A Bradford city centre resembling Hebden Bridge would require a population make up similar to that of Hebden Bridge or other Market towns (shops need suitable customers) and that just isnt going to happen. As for Bradford having enough traders, well maybe it has but they dont cover the variety that people require, hence the mass exodus to surrounding towns every Saturday.
BTW, the phrase 'the last of the whites' is a big red flag but means nothing. You aren't a spokesman for me.
It isnt a matter of "its OK" its more a matter of thats how it is.
I am certainly not a spokesman for anyone or anything, just saying what I think, same as everyone else.
bredandbuttered
says...
7:59am Thu 18 Mar 10
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Mekon says...
9:54am Mon 15 Mar 10
Security word =thats-rich