Westfield 'must lodge new plans over Broadway Debenhams store' (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)
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Bradford Council studies status of shopping scheme
7:00am Friday 5th October 2012 in News
By Jo Winrow, City Hall Reporter
An artist's impression of the scheme
A new report examining the status of the Broadway shopping centre development reveals that developer Westfield must apply to alter its current planning permission to allow Debenhams to expand its anchor store in the scheme.
Bradford Council’s regeneration and economy scrutiny committee asked regeneration officers to provide a report ahead of a special scrutiny committee meeting given over to the long-running development.
Chairman of the committee, Councillor Andrew Mallinson, previously told the Telegraph & Argus: “We need to understand if they have got confidence in the current scheme or will there need to be further alterations, and what the potential timescale would be.”
Now the report, ahead of the committee meeting on Thursday, reveals that in order for Westfield to expand the Debenhams store by an extra 17,000 square feet it must make an application to the Council. In addition, by creating additional retail space at third-floor level, this will involve the loss of 45 spaces in the car park.
Debenhams is one of two anchor tenants, the other being Marks & Spencer, who have signed up to the scheme.
The Council’s strategic director of regeneration and culture, Barra Mac Ruairi, states in the report: “It is recognised that the opening of the Westfield shopping centre will impact on the retail offer in other parts of the city centre when some current city centre retailers relocate to the Westfield development. This will, however, provide opportunities for new retailers, including additional ‘meanwhile’ uses.
“Further city centre public realm enhancements, a fully responsive planning system, targeted public investment, superfast broadband and city centre wi-fi will also improve the wider retail environment.”
It also emerged that an Apprenticeship Training Agency, which the Council is looking to set up with the help of Bradford College, could be used to create a recruitment and training package to ensure local people can take advantage of any job opportunities both during the construction phase and when the centre is up and running.
The report also states that an agreement with arts development group Fabric, which co-ordinated any events in the temporary Bradford Urban Garden on part of the Westfield development site, has been terminated.
Anyone wanting to organise an event on the site should go through the Council instead. Representatives from Westfield are expected to attend the meeting, in City Hall, Bradford, at 1pm.
Comments(55)
Thee Voice of Reason
says...
8:07am Fri 5 Oct 12
Thee Voice of Reason
says...
8:07am Fri 5 Oct 12
Thee Voice of Reason
says...
8:11am Fri 5 Oct 12
Does this report actually tell us anything that wasn't common knowledge anyhow?
Shipley Paul
says...
8:25am Fri 5 Oct 12
Joedavid
says...
8:26am Fri 5 Oct 12
Joedavid
says...
8:29am Fri 5 Oct 12
Get tough like Eric Pickles and his HCA got with the developer of the Odeon.
Odeon Crusader
says...
8:30am Fri 5 Oct 12
Thee Voice of Reason
says...
8:35am Fri 5 Oct 12
No one voted him in to a position like this and the councillors are spineless to get rid so what is his true value?
Z.Raja
says...
8:45am Fri 5 Oct 12
Huneybunch
says...
9:01am Fri 5 Oct 12
vax2002
says...
9:19am Fri 5 Oct 12
So the tax payer is going to be training "apprentices" so they can work in a shop ?
You could not make this up could you ?
Pity poor Bfd!
says...
9:29am Fri 5 Oct 12
Patrick Bateman
says...
9:31am Fri 5 Oct 12
Thee Voice of Reason wrote:They'll never get rid of him: to do so would be an admission of failure (and as we know BDMC live in 'head in the sand' land).
Can the T&A look into Barra's achievements whilst being paid £150k per year by Bradford council.
No one voted him in to a position like this and the councillors are spineless to get rid so what is his true value?
Walruss
says...
10:01am Fri 5 Oct 12
I've never heard so much claptrap in all my life.
Albion.
says...
10:21am Fri 5 Oct 12
Does he mean like the existing empty shops do, so why isn't it happening already?
How many times have the plans been altered now, is this the third or the fourth time?
Bacon Bantam
says...
10:25am Fri 5 Oct 12
.
The whole thing has been a disaster from start to finish. When I mean finish well thats not actually in sight.
Albion.
says...
10:26am Fri 5 Oct 12
Pity poor Bfd! wrote:Exactly! It isn't only Westfield or the council to blame for Bradford's demise.
When I was in Debenhams at the weekend at White Rose, it was full of smart affluent looking families purchasing from what is a higher level fashion retailer. With the demographic being so diverse in Bradford, one wonders why they still want to open here and whether the store would prosper or close after a year or two?
Rambo
says...
10:47am Fri 5 Oct 12
Walruss wrote:Eaxactly. It all reads as PR-b0ll0cks thats put out by someone on a high wage who doesn't do a lot.
“Further city centre public realm enhancements, a fully responsive planning system, targeted public investment, superfast broadband and city centre wi-fi will also improve the wider retail environment.”
I've never heard so much claptrap in all my life.
Oh thats right, Barra Mac Ruari, "The Council’s strategic director of regeneration" and culture as has been pointed out, is on an annual salary of at least £120k (thats public knowledge as been printed in the T&A in the past) that he refuses to take a cut on.
I don't live in Bradford anymore and still can't believe that clown is still there, taking the complete and utter pi$$.
"fully responsive planning system" - WTF is that?
Old Dave
says...
10:53am Fri 5 Oct 12
Patrick Bateman
says...
10:56am Fri 5 Oct 12
Accountability? What accountability??
Patrick Bateman
says...
11:33am Fri 5 Oct 12
Old Dave wrote:If you were on his sort of wedge would YOU?
Even Barra doesnt live in Bradford!
Apollo
says...
12:06pm Fri 5 Oct 12
aje2010
says...
12:34pm Fri 5 Oct 12
angry bradfordian
says...
12:46pm Fri 5 Oct 12
Avro
says...
12:55pm Fri 5 Oct 12
I don't expect a response any time soon!
Avro
says...
12:59pm Fri 5 Oct 12
Wake up Bradford Council, we have been had over far too many times by these clowns!
Apollo
says...
2:02pm Fri 5 Oct 12
Their guys will run rings round the lot employed by the Council who, as others have pointed out, cannot even deal with a simple enforcement action against the illegal bazaar.
If they cannot do something simple imagine how they must be struggling with a multi-million pound development back up by a multi-national corporation.
It is clearly beyond them and they need help.
The Council officers should stick to enforcement (the bazaar) and bring in professionals to do large contract work - it would save money in the long term although cost in the short term.
webshow
says...
2:10pm Fri 5 Oct 12
Z.Raja wrote:Yes, the council have given permission to Bradford Bazaar on Cemetry Rd which is also having a detrimental impact on the clothing retailers in Bradford.
A word of advice for Debenhams...if you think that you can compete with Stall Type illegal Retail Bazaar's in Bradford, forget about it. They are vowed to destroy the Bradford City Retail Business and will continue to do so by using the legal loopholes for long time. The entire matter is stuck on the definition of MARKET/BAZAAR and the council is unable to explain that simple thing to them. Humble advice, simply PACK and GO.
That should be closed too.
A Casual Observer
says...
2:52pm Fri 5 Oct 12
vax2002 wrote:I suspect there will be very little in the way of actual training, and many of these so-called "Apprenticeships" are nothing but exploitation, making other workers redundant so they can be replaced by younger workers on much less pay (e.g. £2.50 per hour).
"Apprenticeship Training Agency"
So the tax payer is going to be training "apprentices" so they can work in a shop ?
You could not make this up could you ?
As for, "....a recruitment and training package to ensure local people can take advantage of any job opportunities both during the construction phase and when the centre is up and running."
Who is going to pay for and provide the necessary CSCS card for people seeking work on the construction?
Will the jobs created when the centre is up and running pay more than Minimum Wage? Will unemployed people who are not interested in retail or part-time cleaning jobs be bullied into applying under threat of having entitelment to State Benefits withdrawn? If so, I certainly won't be shopping there!
MontyLeMar
says...
2:54pm Fri 5 Oct 12
Apollo wrote:I disagree. Take a look at the link below. Westfield has given us a virtual shopping centre, full of ghostly figures and weird musac. So we've virtually got a shopping centre! That may be as close as we get. I was actually thinking about renting some cyberspace in it but I hear the rents are huge.
Why bother? The artist's impression is the nearest any of us are ever going to get to a development on the current site if Wastefield are involved.
.
http://uk.westfield.
com/bradford/
A Casual Observer
says...
2:58pm Fri 5 Oct 12
Albion.
says...
3:02pm Fri 5 Oct 12
A Casual Observer wrote:Not in Leeds they don't.
There are plenty of shops as it is, in fact too many if you ask me, and what do Debenham's sell that other shops don't? Bradford has no need for a new shopping centre. Fill the shops that are currently boarded-up. Or just accept that the nature of shopping has now changed and there is no longer any need to have city centre High Street type stores. People prefer to shop at retail parks and supermarkets where there is ample free parking.
Walruss
says...
3:05pm Fri 5 Oct 12
A Casual Observer wrote:I agree with the principle but how can they say that it is not too late? Which they surely will.
There are plenty of shops as it is, in fact too many if you ask me, and what do Debenham's sell that other shops don't? Bradford has no need for a new shopping centre. Fill the shops that are currently boarded-up. Or just accept that the nature of shopping has now changed and there is no longer any need to have city centre High Street type stores. People prefer to shop at retail parks and supermarkets where there is ample free parking.
Yes, forget about a new shopping centre. But how do you fill the shops that are currently boarded up?
Would you want to invest (waste) your money in this city?
A Casual Observer
says...
3:12pm Fri 5 Oct 12
Albion. wrote:So you say, I've never once been shopping in Leeds so I wouldn't know. I fail to see why people would want to travel all the way to Leeds just to go shopping, or what it is that they need to buy that they think they can't buy here in Bradford.
A Casual Observer wrote:Not in Leeds they don't.
There are plenty of shops as it is, in fact too many if you ask me, and what do Debenham's sell that other shops don't? Bradford has no need for a new shopping centre. Fill the shops that are currently boarded-up. Or just accept that the nature of shopping has now changed and there is no longer any need to have city centre High Street type stores. People prefer to shop at retail parks and supermarkets where there is ample free parking.
A Casual Observer
says...
3:16pm Fri 5 Oct 12
Walruss wrote:Give low rent deals to small independent traders to fill the boarded-up city centre shops; jewelers, boutiques, arts & crafts, second-hand book shops, vegetarian cafes, vegan shoe shops, internet cafes, real ale pubs, etc.
A Casual Observer wrote:I agree with the principle but how can they say that it is not too late? Which they surely will.
There are plenty of shops as it is, in fact too many if you ask me, and what do Debenham's sell that other shops don't? Bradford has no need for a new shopping centre. Fill the shops that are currently boarded-up. Or just accept that the nature of shopping has now changed and there is no longer any need to have city centre High Street type stores. People prefer to shop at retail parks and supermarkets where there is ample free parking.
Yes, forget about a new shopping centre. But how do you fill the shops that are currently boarded up?
Would you want to invest (waste) your money in this city?
Walruss
says...
3:19pm Fri 5 Oct 12
A Casual Observer wrote:Again I agree with your sentiments but the reality must be that even pound shops will eventually give up.
Walruss wrote:Give low rent deals to small independent traders to fill the boarded-up city centre shops; jewelers, boutiques, arts & crafts, second-hand book shops, vegetarian cafes, vegan shoe shops, internet cafes, real ale pubs, etc.
A Casual Observer wrote:I agree with the principle but how can they say that it is not too late? Which they surely will.
There are plenty of shops as it is, in fact too many if you ask me, and what do Debenham's sell that other shops don't? Bradford has no need for a new shopping centre. Fill the shops that are currently boarded-up. Or just accept that the nature of shopping has now changed and there is no longer any need to have city centre High Street type stores. People prefer to shop at retail parks and supermarkets where there is ample free parking.
Yes, forget about a new shopping centre. But how do you fill the shops that are currently boarded up?
Would you want to invest (waste) your money in this city?
Albion.
says...
3:23pm Fri 5 Oct 12
A Casual Observer wrote:You won't be missed.
Albion. wrote:So you say, I've never once been shopping in Leeds so I wouldn't know. I fail to see why people would want to travel all the way to Leeds just to go shopping, or what it is that they need to buy that they think they can't buy here in Bradford.
A Casual Observer wrote:Not in Leeds they don't.
There are plenty of shops as it is, in fact too many if you ask me, and what do Debenham's sell that other shops don't? Bradford has no need for a new shopping centre. Fill the shops that are currently boarded-up. Or just accept that the nature of shopping has now changed and there is no longer any need to have city centre High Street type stores. People prefer to shop at retail parks and supermarkets where there is ample free parking.
MontyLeMar
says...
3:37pm Fri 5 Oct 12
Yorkshire Lass
says...
4:29pm Fri 5 Oct 12
Yorkshire Lass
says...
4:31pm Fri 5 Oct 12
Albion. wrote:More pound shops, charity shops, betting shops and coffee houses, no doubt.
"The Council’s strategic director of regeneration and culture, Barra Mac Ruairi, states in the report: “It is recognised that the opening of the Westfield shopping centre will impact on the retail offer in other parts of the city centre when some current city centre retailers relocate to the Westfield development. This will, however, provide opportunities for new retailers, including additional ‘meanwhile’ uses."
Does he mean like the existing empty shops do, so why isn't it happening already?
How many times have the plans been altered now, is this the third or the fourth time?
bobbyo
says...
4:43pm Fri 5 Oct 12
cockadoodledo
says...
6:00pm Fri 5 Oct 12
Colin Allcars
says...
7:45pm Fri 5 Oct 12
Thee Voice of Reason wrote:does he also go by the name Barry McRory?
Btw this all just looks like Barra is doing something to be seen to justify his job.
Does this report actually tell us anything that wasn't common knowledge anyhow?
CharleyVarrick
says...
8:33pm Fri 5 Oct 12
A Casual Observer
says...
9:05pm Fri 5 Oct 12
Yorkshire Lass wrote:Build a new library on it.
Does this mean that eventually the urban garden will disappear? What a waste of money this has been when it could have be used for more parking spaces. Even now, the cars still park outside the urban garden with their flashing lights so they can nip into the banks. What will they do when Westfield opens (if ever)
alfucham
says...
11:42pm Fri 5 Oct 12
What politispeak claptrap this out of his depth regen head and his stooges in the council give an impression of.
the sentiments are correct.It is a complete waste of time even hoping and its time the council with govt help put pressure on westfield to take the site out of their control.
the meeting of the councils scrutiny committee scheduled for was it 10 October should be attended by all who regularly post on hear.
westfield should be given the reception they deserve for spinning everyone along.
Bradford is not Leeds or even close anymore in terms of appeal and will never recover.
Since its inception as a scheme as far back as the late 90"s the city has become poorer and poorer.
A 50000 increase in population most jobless many lawless.
A contraction everywhere to a status of almost third world.
There was little confidence in Bradford by the big chains 15 years ago.
Its ziltch now.
No mention in this report that Next have definately signed up.
The future of retail generally is not in this concept.
It is now an anachronism.
The future is the white Roses of the world or Owlcoates.
And more importantly for my daughters generation online.
Some planning department we have in Bradford.
lets face it most in Bradford are poor now.
even the new owner of the Bulls 3 or 4 years ago had to accept his attempt to make a chic boutique hotel in manningham Bradford 8 next to Lister Park was not going to work.
Bradford is not Mayfair or even a shadow of what Leeds has become.
bazaars are springing up everywhere.
roll up pitch up and no £200 a week rents as for the smallest of stalls in Oastler.
No city centre business rates.
This is what 40 pc of the population of Bradford seek now.
Not glitz and glass.
Tac and cheap.
The rest have flown the nest and wont be allured back by Debenhams.
The poster above is right on that re Debs in the White Rose.
When will they ever learn once went the song.
The penny might drop one day.
Our cities only hope is that its centre becomes not a retail place but a cutural experience.
in America there is little city centre retail.
We have followed everything else they do from academys to war waging so I guess thats where we will end up.
I see theres to be a speakers corner.
can we not have a beggars corner too as frankly my infrequent visits to the centre are marred by such activity.
The place is taking on all the hallmarks of the twilight zone horror of the city in Blade Runner.
Stop dreaming council.
With help take the site back and create a proper urban park with free underground car park.
How on earth do they expect that people will want to pay to park in that hole when they can nip to Birstall or White Rose or Owlcoates.
It just will not happen and is probably the biggest mistake made in the history of Bradford.
The other was probably not crearting a single station serving both lines at a time when Bradford truly had something to offer the world.
Its too late now Monty.
all thats left is a few decent folk whose business close weekly and a lot of rubbish.
Roll another spliff casual and reflect.
I"ts a mean old scene and if things can get any worse I might just join you
RIP my once proud city.
Doubtfull ever to reignite from the ashes.
would make a great mass burial site come the revolution.
And I feel its coming.
Why put a counselling service for addicts in prime retail area?
why put a heroin dispensory in prime retail (or it was once)area?
That causes yet another mass police charge to pin down one such afflicted.
I mean would you really want to shop in Bradford with that sort of daily occurence.
a few weeks back another asian wandering around the city off his trolly brandishsing a gun.(fake but reralistic as it transpired)
Its a Mean Old Scene and its going to get a whole lot worse.
The revolution coming believe me.
I guess there enough arsnel assembled now to strart a spring.
And if we dont get a grip it will happen for sure.
Joblessness and poverty leads ultimately to Brixton Toxteth Tottenham and Bradford.(Bradford not once but twice)
and a Hestletine /Thatcher inspired garden for the people of Liverpool in consequence will not wash here.
Get a grip now politicians before it is too late.
There is never ANY good news to come out of the place anymore.
Unless your a city fan and after 10 years of torture feel the first seeds of optimism.
How depressing must this read.
I used to be happy in Bradford.
Now I feel despair.
Roll that spliff Casual.
Not sure I can take anymore bad news.
keep taking the pee posters.
We all feel the same.
And definately make the effort to get to the Town Hall next week for the scrutiny committee meet.
Where we should all SCREAM from the rafters.
ITS JUST NOT GOOD ENOUGH.
Let them eat cake may come the retort.
And the kicking and screaming can start
ANY WHERE BUT HERE
says...
11:44pm Fri 5 Oct 12
justjustice
says...
1:13am Sat 6 Oct 12
MontyLeMar wrote:Well there you have it, even Westfield have no grasp of reality, flying through all those stores I didnt see one pound shop!
Apollo wrote:I disagree. Take a look at the link below. Westfield has given us a virtual shopping centre, full of ghostly figures and weird musac. So we've virtually got a shopping centre! That may be as close as we get. I was actually thinking about renting some cyberspace in it but I hear the rents are huge.
Why bother? The artist's impression is the nearest any of us are ever going to get to a development on the current site if Wastefield are involved.
.
http://uk.westfield.
com/bradford/
But hang on, didnt Westfield quietly say that they were looking to sell on the site any way?
I am surprised hardly anyone has voted on this epetition either!
http://epetitions.di
rect.gov.uk/petition
s/34836
Sign it and get the government to do something about it rather than just complaining!
I emailed the guys there and they said you can have a lot of people signing from one PC, so long as the emails are valid. So any Bradford businessmen want to set up a laptop/PC so that their customers can vote when they come in??
If people care so much about Bradford, why do we only have 239 signatures?
Thee Voice of Reason
says...
7:52am Sat 6 Oct 12
Z.Raja
says...
8:35am Sat 6 Oct 12
What now
says...
1:31am Sun 7 Oct 12
bcfc1903
says...
2:43am Sun 7 Oct 12
Storms.
says...
10:10pm Sun 7 Oct 12
I personally would prefer a nicely designed park or other relaxing environment.
Or if the whole idea is to make money; then proposition one of the big tech giants to build a 'start up centre' (like Google have done in London). The idea being that internet entrepeneurs use the premises to start up their businesses.
Andy2010
says...
1:26pm Tue 9 Oct 12
Storms. wrote:I agree with your comment on th tech centre as potentially might be viable but their are numerous "hub" offices going empty already in Bradford therefore wouldnt be a goer. The arguement for shops however I disagree with. I have quite a nice disposable income each month which I can afford to treat myself and my family but I wouldnt dream of going into Bradford with the shops on offer and people just milling around. I know in Leeds I can wander around "decent" shops in a relative safe atmosphere, go for a nice meal and maybe a film all in the space of about a quarter of a mile. In Bradford I would need to goto Arndale or forster square, Watch my bags like a hawk to avoid pickpockets, get run over by fag smoking tattoo wearing fat pram pushing mothers getting something for a wedding from JD Sports, Avoid the drunks stumbling out of the countless betting shops to try and find a decent city centre restaurent then take the long walk through the cannabis blowing down wind up to Cineworld.
I agree with 'Casual Observer', do we really need more shops? We've got the Forster square retail park and all the shops in and around Arndale. Not to mention the internet! I personally would prefer a nicely designed park or other relaxing environment. Or if the whole idea is to make money; then proposition one of the big tech giants to build a 'start up centre' (like Google have done in London). The idea being that internet entrepeneurs use the premises to start up their businesses.
My point is that although in essence I can understand the arguement against more shops Bradford needs to attract people into the centre with more disposable income and deliver a better experience when there to keep people there and spending. Leeds is brilliant at this as yes you do get waifs and strays around but you dont feel no where near as intimidated in Leeds as in Bradford.
Old Dave says...
7:59am Fri 5 Oct 12
Only now, 10 years down the line, when our city is in a seemingly terminal decline, do council officials start thinking about the impact on the rest of the city centre. It's a bit late now! If Westfield doesnt happen there is no hope! Its the last chance saloon. Please Barra, dont mess it up!