Work starts on Westfield site 'urban garden' (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)
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Work starts on Westfield site 'urban garden'
6:00am Monday 12th April 2010 in News By James Rush
The mothballed Broadway site which is to get an urban garden
Work was starting today to turn part of the mothballed Broadway shopping centre site into a temporary ‘urban garden’.
Developer Westfield is to install paths, green spaces and lighting and remove some hoardings on parts of the ten acre city centre site after striking an agreement with Bradford Council and regional development agency Yorkshire Forward.
Andrew Mason, chairman of Bradford Property Forum, said the Bradford Urban Garden, which will cost £300,000, will open up the city from Little Germany and make the centre look more attractive to people travelling down Leeds Road.
He said the scheme, which will also feature artworks from arts development agency Fabric, had been fully supported by developers Westfield which had helped finance it while it waits for the economy to recover sufficiently for it to start building the £320 million shopping centre.
He said: “People have been annoyed with Westfield and I think they have got that message and they came willingly to the table and they have been tremendously supportive. They have realised the delay is not ideal for the city and consequently they are putting money into it.”
Consultation with community, cultural and business groups about the interim use of the landscaped site is now taking place.
The Council’s Local Impact team aims to ensure the district’s economy can benefit through use of local labour, supplies and apprenticeships.
Mike Cowlam, the Council’s assistant director for economic development, said: “Westfield and the Council remain committed to the final scheme, however in the current climate it is unrealistic to expect development work to start in the near future. The interim use will open up pathways across the city and provide a variety of opportunities for local engagement and skills training.”
Nick Huntington, development director for Westfield Bradford, said: “The area is to be transformed into an urban green space. Westfield continues to work on the wider redevelopment of the site, but this project will ensure the area is transformed into an attractive, safe and dynamic space.”
Fabric has previously revealed it was working on a range of possible creative uses for the site..
Its director Gideon Seymour said: “It’s great that after six months of negotiations work is going to start and we are really looking forward to talking to local artists, communities and schools about how they can get involved.
“This is a real opportunity for everyone to start to re-engage part of their city centre and we hope that we get lots of project ideas.”
Comments(38)
holden caulfield
says...
8:10am Mon 12 Apr 10
Are they proposing to bring in a few thousand tons of topsoil to allow weeds to grow?
A silly idea, but it would be more of a surprise if someone came up with a sensible solution.
Avro
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8:18am Mon 12 Apr 10
clackett.lane
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8:33am Mon 12 Apr 10
reportmeagain
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8:39am Mon 12 Apr 10
PHILISAN
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9:01am Mon 12 Apr 10
Maccaout
says...
9:14am Mon 12 Apr 10
RIP Bradford
Joedavid
says...
10:02am Mon 12 Apr 10
Sadly i think the shopping center will never happen as said above it never realy started before the bad last year came so why in the future.
Beleive it when I see it is my atitude to the shopping center.
Joedavid
says...
10:02am Mon 12 Apr 10
Sadly i think the shopping center will never happen as said above it never realy started before the bad last year came so why in the future.
Beleive it when I see it is my atitude to the shopping center.
mad matt
says...
10:18am Mon 12 Apr 10
It would be nice though if the bottom of Leeds Road could be reinstated as a dual carriageway, with a proper footpath instead of pedestrians having to cross the busy road twice!
albion
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10:45am Mon 12 Apr 10
holden caulfield
says...
10:58am Mon 12 Apr 10
DJ_TEZZA_93
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12:29pm Mon 12 Apr 10
Rambo
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12:40pm Mon 12 Apr 10
Avro
says...
1:08pm Mon 12 Apr 10
DJ_TEZZA_93 wrote:Exactly how much is the question, which seems to have evaded the T&A, and in any case Westfield should be doing the work gratis as recompense for not starting building work anytime soon, possibly another 5yrs down the line?!
Nice to see Westfield are putting money into it, we do need some kind of compensation for the mess they've created in our city centre.
Macca51
says...
1:45pm Mon 12 Apr 10
Have to laugh at the comment from Mike Cowlam though who says, and I quote
'The interim use will open up pathways across the city and provide a variety of opportunities for local engagement and skills training.'
Classic BS, and sadly something I come across far too often in my own job.
For those of a nervous disposition you should look away, but for the brave amongst you, can I say that this has all the hallmarks of an incompetant council desperately trying to polish a turd!!
basil fawlty
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2:07pm Mon 12 Apr 10
dutchuncle
says...
2:39pm Mon 12 Apr 10
Ok, here are some actual facts:
Greenspace in centres makes city living more appealing. People living in city centers appeals to potential investors because there is a local populous of consumers.
An urban garden can only be a good thing.
Rambo
says...
3:22pm Mon 12 Apr 10
dutchuncle wrote:100 odd shops and the several thousand jobs that were initially proposed would have been even better.
That's the spirit people! Ok, here are some actual facts: Greenspace in centres makes city living more appealing. People living in city centers appeals to potential investors because there is a local populous of consumers. An urban garden can only be a good thing.
Hockens Hey
says...
3:41pm Mon 12 Apr 10
dutchuncle wrote:I'd much rather see some greenery that the shopping centre that was proposed. Or better still a return to how Forster Square used to look pre 60s vandalism.
That's the spirit people!
Ok, here are some actual facts:
Greenspace in centres makes city living more appealing. People living in city centers appeals to potential investors because there is a local populous of consumers.
An urban garden can only be a good thing.
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There's more than enough empty shops in Bradford to house any businesses that want to come here without the need for an identikit shopping complex.
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The whole Westfield debacle seems to be a red herring disguising Bradford's deeper problems. Businesses didn't want to come here in the good times before the recession which is why it got mothballed.
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The problem with this, is that I can't see what can be achieved in such a huge space with £300k when the budget for the vastly smaller 'park in the heart' is £24.4m.
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How can you bed in shrubs, lay turf, plants, trees etc on a building site like that? You'd probably have to spend most of the budget on topsoil alone!
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I think we'll be left with the same crater but just with a few walkways and some poorly looking anemic greenery, rather than an urban garden.
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It's just another half-a-job to go with the Odeon neglect and the half a police station in a park. The sooner we get to hold all those responsible for this accountable the better.
Joedavid
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3:49pm Mon 12 Apr 10
basil fawlty wrote:Bradford too allready has one it is called the Arndale Center, but if ever Westfield build thiers and fill it with shops I fear for the shops in the Arndale.
I notice that work seems to have restarted on the stalled Trinity Walk shopping centre in Wakefield. This is a similarly sized shopping centre to Westfield's so one wonders why the devlopers there have more confidence in Wakefield than Westfield have in Bradford. This is curious, especially as Wakefileld already has the very large and attractive Ridings Shopping Centre nearby and because Wakefield is by no means a wealthy city.
dutchuncle
says...
4:18pm Mon 12 Apr 10
Forster Square retail park has been absolutely catastrophic for our city centre. How an out of town style shopping park was allowed to be built in a major city centre beggars belief. Bradford has to steer itself away from car dominated shopping trips.
ms walker
says...
5:58pm Mon 12 Apr 10
And I'll be the first one rolling down my woollens and hitching up me drawers to have a nice little sunbathe in the new space, just as soon as they tear down those wretched marketing hoardings. I might even take my pinny off for the occasion. Bring out the bunting, SOMETHING is being done...! Is there somewhere I can hire a deckchair..?
Twistinmymellons
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7:02pm Mon 12 Apr 10
the Laird
says...
8:05pm Mon 12 Apr 10
As people have said previously, not going to get a great deal for that compared with the spend on the city park.
No mention though of whos going to pay the ongoing costs for the no doubt numerous years it will remain like that. This arty-**** Fabric company wont be doing stuff for the goodness of their health, Would be interested to know what they are charging us for it all. This Gideon chappie keeps going on about "engaging with the local community" Makes me wonder if he knows what Bradford actually is like in the centre
scanipoos
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8:58pm Mon 12 Apr 10
scanipoos
says...
8:59pm Mon 12 Apr 10
Mrs Thackley
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9:26pm Mon 12 Apr 10
basil fawlty
says...
10:13am Tue 13 Apr 10
Joedavid wrote:But Wakefield city is only about a third of the size of Bradford. And the Ridings shopping centre is far superior to the Arndale as a shopping experience. So if Wakefield can sustain its new shopping centre, then why can't Bradford?
basil fawlty wrote: I notice that work seems to have restarted on the stalled Trinity Walk shopping centre in Wakefield. This is a similarly sized shopping centre to Westfield's so one wonders why the devlopers there have more confidence in Wakefield than Westfield have in Bradford. This is curious, especially as Wakefileld already has the very large and attractive Ridings Shopping Centre nearby and because Wakefield is by no means a wealthy city.Bradford too allready has one it is called the Arndale Center, but if ever Westfield build thiers and fill it with shops I fear for the shops in the Arndale.
The main reason that Bradfordians go shopping to places like Leeds is because of the quality, small size and small selection of the shops in Bradford. Having two major shopping centres will make a shopping visit to Bradford centre worthwhile.
bradfordenthusiast
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4:45pm Tue 13 Apr 10
albion
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5:11pm Tue 13 Apr 10
bradfordenthusiast wrote:Or more likely fail.
Nice to see some positive comments on the development. Can't see what you all expect. Clearly the shopping centre isn't going to be built in the near future so this is a good opportunity. You lot are never happy. Try to stop whinging and make a positive contribution. If you are all so clever why don't you contact fabric and see if there is something you could to contribute. Or is it too much to expect that you would get of your backsides, stop complaining and help. You can criticise the council officers all you like. At least they are trying in very difficult circumstances, which are made more difficult by the unrealistic twaddle you ner sayers keep on peddling. Lets start to back this city and get it on its feet again.
By the way there are people on this forum who have attempted to help in the past, even going so far as producing alternative plans to some of the councils come to nothing efforts.
As for the council officers "trying" I would remind you that they are responsible for the current state of the city centre.
bradfordenthusiast
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4:26pm Wed 14 Apr 10
albion
says...
4:41pm Wed 14 Apr 10
bradfordenthusiast wrote:I spent thirty years working in the city and then owned two businesses within its boundaries, you can start preaching to me when you know what the hell you are talking about.
Council officers are not responsible for the failure of the textile industry to invest, the failure of the banks or the international economic crisis. It is too simple to blame the council for the evils of the world. They have delivered projects but people like you never give them credit. In the city centre there is Eastbrook Hall, Southgate, City Park, Forster Square retail park, The National Media Museum, Alhambra Theatre, Gatehaus. Looking further afield what about the Marks and Spencers development off the M606, Look at Victoria Mills, and Listers Mills. All these projects had council and Yorkshire Forward support. I presume you are referring to the alternative plans for the odeon or cross rail. In all the debate in the press on the Odeon I never saw a serious alternative scheme put forward. Any one with a pc can produce an artists impression. As for cross rail, it takes out two major redevelopment sites and will cost more money than the government will give. Of course there are failures (admittedly big ones) but there are lots of successes too. I have only been here a couple of years but I believe in the city and its progress and I am looking to stay in the long term. Perhaps you should move to somewhere you like.
ravacity
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8:48pm Wed 14 Apr 10
albion
says...
9:19pm Wed 14 Apr 10
ravacity wrote:"whinging,moaning ,crying,.... gits is the word im looking for"
well said enthusiast, a lot of good things in this city but trying to enlighten the regular doom and gloom merchants on this site is a losing battle, we all know bradfords got its problems but talk about kicking a man when hes down, these people realy have nothing better to do, what ever the story, its the same people whinging,moaning ,crying,.... gits is the word im looking for
Yes, It suits you perfectly.
bradfordenthusiast
says...
2:46pm Fri 16 Apr 10
ravacity: Thanks for your support. I am going to keep bringing a little bit of sunshine on to these pages and if you would like to join me feel free.
albion
says...
4:24pm Fri 16 Apr 10
bradfordenthusiast wrote:"The world that you and your friends live in is called 1950"
Albion west riding: Me preach. You and your friends have been preaching doom and gloom on this site since it first started. I work for a well known financing company and put money into business owners and developers and its my job to understand what is going on. The world that you and your friends live in is called 1950.
ravacity: Thanks for your support. I am going to keep bringing a little bit of sunshine on to these pages and if you would like to join me feel free.
I would call it reality and experience (some things that you obviously lack).
ms walker
says...
5:31pm Sat 17 Apr 10
bradfordenthusiast wrote:I'm pleased that something is happening, and in this situation (almost) anything is better than nothing, but please forgive me for pointing out the utter despair that so many of us feel about the current state of the city and its council.
Council officers are not responsible for the failure of the textile industry to invest, the failure of the banks or the international economic crisis. It is too simple to blame the council for the evils of the world. They have delivered projects but people like you never give them credit. In the city centre there is Eastbrook Hall, Southgate, City Park, Forster Square retail park, The National Media Museum, Alhambra Theatre, Gatehaus. Looking further afield what about the Marks and Spencers development off the M606, Look at Victoria Mills, and Listers Mills. All these projects had council and Yorkshire Forward support. I presume you are referring to the alternative plans for the odeon or cross rail. In all the debate in the press on the Odeon I never saw a serious alternative scheme put forward. Any one with a pc can produce an artists impression. As for cross rail, it takes out two major redevelopment sites and will cost more money than the government will give. Of course there are failures (admittedly big ones) but there are lots of successes too. I have only been here a couple of years but I believe in the city and its progress and I am looking to stay in the long term. Perhaps you should move to somewhere you like.
I have spent a lot of time and energy jumping through the various hoops required by the council planning department to object to the decision to pull down the Odeon. and their policies and processes - along with the ill-starred BCR - on this particular subject have been less than transparent. I still feel aggrieved by the misrepresentations and deliberate disinformation we have been fed for the last ten years. The information is on the web. BORG and latterly Save Our Odeon .com have collated it.
Enthusiast, I like and admire your enthusiasm, but there are reasons why Bradfordians loathe our council, and their lack of consideration for the wishes of Bradfordians is just one of them.
I love Bradford - can't wait to see things start happening, but there are very few councillors at city hall that have my respect.
And you're right about anyone with a pc producing an artist's impression..It's Bradford Council's favourite pastime. Another and another and another...
albion says...
6:31am Mon 12 Apr 10
If that is all that is stopping it how come they didnt start in all the years that the economy was more buoyant?
Make a good job of the garden I have a feeling it will have to last a very long time.