The leader of Bradford Council has called on Bradfordians to get behind Westfield to ensure the Broadway shopping centre is built as quickly as possible.

It comes as revised plans for the now £275 million scheme went on public display yesterday.

Plans now contain two major anchor stores and 75 shops along with parking for more than 1,300 cars. Presentation boards at the Midland Hotel stated that many of the retailers who will take space in Westfield Bradford will be new to the city.

The consultation comes as the company prepares to submit a revised planning application within a month. It also emerged that the shopping centre would be slightly smaller than the White Rose Centre in Leeds.

Councillor Ian Greenwood said: “It is obviously a very significant shopping centre for the centre of Bradford.

“Bradfordians should get behind Westfield and encourage them to go forward as quickly as possible so that we can once again have a city centre to be proud of.”

Councillor David Green, said: “I am delighted that we have reached this stage in the process and look forward to the submission of the full planning application and getting the scheme on site because its a vital piece of the jigsaw in the regeneration of Bradford.

“I believe this scheme is deliverable and what Bradford needs is delivery rather than false promises and we need to do everything we can to support this development.”

Members of the public who attended the exhibition were largely positive about the new plans, but were keen to see things getting moving.

Sue Smith, of Bingley, said: “People don’t come into Bradford any more to shop because there is nothing here. People go to Leeds to shop, but this could change that.”

George Kudelnitzky, who runs a Kirkgate hairdressers, said: “I’ve been working in the city centre for 27 years and this is a dream come true. Looking at the new plans the footfall from the Arndale Centre and businesses in that area is going to come down to the bottom of the city centre. And it will draw back the footfall that are currently going to Leeds.

“Bradford district is big and very wealthy, but the city centre isn’t. That money is going elsewhere and we want to draw it back into the city centre.

“The current businesses can only benefit from this, particularly as there will be a lot of retailers new to the city in the development.”

David Shinn, 72, of Heaton, said: “I think the plans are quite good actually. There’s going to be a difficulty getting people back to Bradford who are used to shopping in Leeds. It’s a pity we can’t have the bigger development, but 75 new shops are better than nothing. It’s a pity there won’t be a food court though.”

Clinton Fitzpatrick, 60, a surveyor who lives in Baildon and works in Bradford city centre, said: “I think they will have a real problem keeping 75 units full. Maybe for the first six months, but there isn’t enough brass in the city. Maybe I’m wrong, but I think the retailers will find it hard to make enough money to pay the rents Westfield will expect.”

Peter Smith, of Bingley, said: “I’d like to see them going ahead as soon as possible. And I think they should also incorporate a cross-rail link in the plans. The sooner they get on with it now the better.”

Christine Shinn, 69, of Heaton, said: “The plans do look good. I am one that goes shopping in Leeds city centre at the moment but if there is somewhere to shop in Bradford, I will start shopping here. If there are lots of the shops I like such as Marks & Spencer and Debenhams and somewhere to sit and have a quiet coffee, I will come back.”

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