POP up cafes, shops and street food vendors could soon be opened to help brighten up a city centre shopping area described as “not the most pleasant environment.”

The owners of Forster Square Retail Park have submitted a planning application for up to five temporary food units at the pedestrian underpass beneath Hamm Strasse. The application says it is an attempt to make the underpass, which links the two sides of the retail park more attractive to shoppers.

The application by British Land says: “The area provides a pedestrian link between the two parts of Forster Court. However, currently that part under Hamm Strasse it is not the most pleasant environment and could discourage movement on foot between the two phases of the retail park.

“The pop ups are seeking to serve a specific market created by Forster Square. They are seeking to reinforce the physical link between the two phases of the park.”

It says that due to the units being temporary, vendors are likely to change over time. It will lead to 32 fewer parking spaces, although the application says that area of the car park is rarely used to capacity.

In 2015 British Land were given permission for a “comprehensive” overhaul of the centre, including improved pedestrian links, a play area and public toilets. The group said it was an attempt to make the retail park more attractive to pedestrians, but work has yet to start on the re-development.

Val Summerscales from the Bradford Chamber of Trade, said: “We are fully supportive of any improvements in the area, which isn’t really attractive at the moment.

“It is a means to an end to get more footfall in the retail park. It is great when anyone wants to spend money on something that will improve our city centre.”

A decision on the application is expected in May.

Last year British Land was given planning permission to demolish the existing Royal Mail site next to the retail park, replacing it with a leisure development of restaurants, a cinema and a gym. The T&A contacted British Land for any update on the progress of the development, but they have yet to respond.

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