Specialist consultants have analysed wind flows around a proposed city centre development to assess the scheme’s potential impact on the safety and comfort of pedestrians.

The planning application for the £40 million New Victoria Place scheme, on the site of Bradford’s former Odeon cinema, is an example of the growing need for developers to submit ‘wind microclimate assessments’ in support of planning applications.

Since adopting the replacement Unitary Development Plan in 2005, Bradford Council has increasingly demanded wind studies from developers to support planning applications involving large or tall buildings.

Across the UK as a whole, planning authorities have become more aware of the potential impact of developments on existing wind flows and the associated effects on pedestrians.

In the case of New Victoria Place, international consultancy company WYG was commissioned by joint applicants Langtree Artisan and Yorkshire Forward to analyse atmospheric conditions at the site to identify structures that could affect air flow patterns.

The mixed-use development includes a number of outdoor seating areas and balcony restaurants where low wind speeds were deemed necessary for comfort.

Atmospheric scientists at WYG used Virtualwind Computational Fluid Dynamic (CFD) modelling and visualisation software to simulate wind flow around the proposed development.

They concluded that the wind comfort and safety criteria would not be exceeded for any likely pedestrian activity within the central public areas of the development, including the balcony restaurants.

WYG Environment Planning Transport managing director David Crichton-Miller said: “We are able to advise clients at the initial design stage as well as consultation of finalised masterplans on existing conditions in the local environment.”

The news comes at a time when Bradford’s property sector is being consulted on whether or not investment is being delayed by the need to obtain non-planning consents in relation to the environment, hazardous substances, heritage and transport.

Evidence is being sought to feed into a review led by Adrian Penfold, of British Land, that will focus not on obtaining planning permission itself but on the interaction between the process of obtaining planning permission and the need to get other consents.

Andrew Mason, chairman of Bradford Property Forum, will be responding directly to the Government review and to Yorkshire Forward, and has asked for information from members to support the response.