Britain's first city centre science business park, a European-style boulevard, and proposed major changes to Bradford's inner ring road were revealed today.

A detailed proposal to transform Thornton Road into a stylish boulevard lined with cafes and trees is one of the top priority projects contained within the Valley Neighbourhood Development Framework, the third of the four key zones in Bradford's "Birth of a New City" regeneration initiative.

The new blueprint covers a large part of the west side of the city centre.

The draft document also proposes the country's first city centre science park alongside a landmark residential scheme on the site of the former gasworks in Thornton Road. Another of the proposed priorities involves creating a park on the slopes of the reopened Bradford Beck below Bradford College and the University.

The blueprint has been described as a detailed interpretation of Will Alsop's city centre masterplan but it also con tains substantial revisions.

Dave Preece, Bradford Council's group planning manager, said the area covered in the Valley had now been extended to join up an area where Mr Alsop left a gap between the valley neighbourhood and the markets zone.

The Valley NDF also focuses on Goitside, which was not included in the original city centre masterplan.

Mr Alsop's iconic Bridge of Learning, which would have linked the university, college and city centre, has been axed.

The idea was considered a "bit wacky," according to Mr Preece, who said there were more practical ways of linking the three.

Mr Alsop's plan for a wetland on the site of the former gasworks has also been dropped because levels of contamination made it impractical, according to a consultation team led by the Urban Economic Development Group (URBED).

And his vision of a vast park alongside Bradford Beck has been scaled down because increased property prices mean it is no longer possible to turn over so much land to open space.

Mr Preece, unveiling the blueprint on behalf of the Council, said: "This report contains some quite substantial changes to the original masterplan."

The Council will present the proposals to the public at an exhibition running from Monday until Wednesday, September 13, in the new reception area at City Hall.

Comment forms will be available and people have a three week period, up to October 2, to view the blueprint at planning offices in Bradford, Keighley, Ilkley, Shipley and the libraries in Bradford, Keighley, Shipley, Bingley and Ilkley.

Comments should be sent to the Planning Implementation Group, Bradford Council, Transportation Design and Planning Department, FREEPOST, BD818, 8th floor, Jacobs Well, Bradford, BD1 1BR.

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