5,000 new jobs and £1bn of business investment at stake in Enterprise Zone bid (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)
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5,000 new jobs and £1bn of business investment at stake in Enterprise Zone bid
8:30am Thursday 26th May 2011 in News
By Marc Meneaud, Aire Valley Chief Reporter
Bradford city centre with the empty Westfield site
Turning the city centre into an ‘Enterprise Zone’ would breath new life into a planned £1 billion pipeline of investment in the city centre, it was claimed today.
A fresh air of confidence is emanating from City Hall over Bradford’s ambitions to kick-start the city centre economy.
In the past few years the city has been characterised by boarded-up businesses, while a huge hole fills the space where a £320 million shopping centre should stand.
Many proposed schemes have been floated, many have stalled, many have never begun – perpetuating a loss of investor confidence in the city which has become all too apparent.
But regeneration chiefs believe it is now the time for significant change.
They say creating the region’s only Enterprise Zone (EZ) across 147 hectares (363 acres) of Bradford city centre is the best way to achieve that goal.
The designation would also help to unleash a £1 billion pipeline of planned possible investment in the city centre, including New Victoria Place, a central business forest and the Broadway shopping centre.
Councillor Dave Green, Bradford Council’s portfolio holder for regeneration, certainly believes a zone in Bradford would “unlock the full economic potential of the city.”
If agreed, it would cover an area from the University Quarter in the west to Little Germany in the east, and would trigger a new wave of confidence, said Coun Green.
He points out that the district remains the second largest economy in the Leeds City Region, itself the country’s largest regional economy outside London.
An enterprise zone would give a generous boost to the region’s £51 billion economy as well as generating an estimated £11.4 million in business rates by 2015 – £290 million over 25 years for Bradford.
That is because Bradford Council would be able to offer a full business rate discount to employers who move into or invest in the area up to a maximum of five years or to £275,000.
Any additional business rates from the zone over 25 years will be ploughed back into the regional economy.
It will also make it easier for businesses to expand because of streamlined planning rules for those within the zone’s boundaries.
Estimates show that the major investment would create an additional 5,265 jobs by the end of 2015 in a city which currently attracts business commuters from Kirklees, Calderdale, Craven and Harrogate.
Already, there is scope for £1 billion of investment in the city centre – including plans for the New Victoria Place scheme on the site of the former Odeon and a central business district.
And, in the past week, Westfield, the developers behind the Broadway shopping centre, have also started to make positive noises.
A spokesman for the Australian developer told the Telegraph & Argus that it was back in talks with retailers about re-starting the mothballed shopping centre project.
It has identified the Bradford scheme as one of 18 projects – totalling £6.75 billion in the UK, US, Australia and New Zealand – where “pre-development activity” is taking place.
Retailers moving to the Broadway site, which has been turned into an urban garden, would benefit from even more investment the zone would create.
Other developments such as the award-winning Southgate development also show that there is a need for top quality office space in the city centre, said Coun Green.
However, he said no building work would be needed to realise the “vast majority” of the £1 billion in planned investment.
Space is already available for businesses to move in, leading to £611,000 in added business rates from existing property.
“There is a range of options for investment,” said Coun Green. “The zone has the infrastructure in place to be operational from April 2012 and contains the range of cultural, residential and environmental assets you need to attract and retain people and businesses.
“The ripple effect would be clear. A vibrant and successful city centre would drive the economy of the rest of the district and the wider city region.”
Despite the strength of Bradford’s offer it still has to overcome some hurdles before a zone can be created – notably, rival bids from other areas of the Leeds City Region. Earlier this month, the Leeds City Region’s Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) board drew up a short list including the Aire Valley in Leeds, Selby, and the Wakefield M62 Corridor.
A spokesman for the partnership said bids were chosen on the basis of the scale of each zone, the quality of what would be delivered and what it would cost to set up.
A private sector-led task group will analyse more detailed proposals for the sites and make recommendations to the next LEP board meeting in mid-June. Their recommendations will take into account whether setting up a zone in Bradford or elsewhere would simply displace businesses from outside the zone.
Coun Green said he was “aware of concerns” over a Bradford zone taking away business from surrounding areas.
But he said: “The Bradford enterprise zone would create a significant pot of money very quickly, which can be re-invested to support business growth and new business start-ups outside of the zone. We could complement what Leeds offers by drawing on our past and present entrepreneurial tradition, creating, making and trading for the modern world.
“We will still be able to grow the local economy and make a valuable contribution to the city region without the city centre becoming an enterprise zone but the benefits it brings would mean improvements come a lot faster and on a far more significant scale.
“The increased confidence generated by becoming an enterprise zone would help to unlock the full economic potential of the city centre.”
Comments(36)
Rambo
says...
9:10am Thu 26 May 11
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"portfolio holder?" HA, another seemingly jobs for the boys position. What else do we have? An executive member of regeneration, a strategic director of regeneration....
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I bet they love making up ridiculous back slapping job titles for each other.
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"Many proposed schemes have been floated, many have stalled, many have never begun – perpetuating a loss of investor confidence in the city which has become all too apparent."
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What?!? really??!
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"But regeneration chiefs believe it is now the time for significant change."
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"regeneration chiefs" who are these overpaid idiots? "now".... why not 5 years ago, 10 even, when they saw Leeds go full steam ahead with they were doing?
MontyLeMar
says...
10:28am Thu 26 May 11
http://www.communiti
es.gov.uk/documents/
localgovernment/pdf/
1872724.pdf
One item that stood out is what it defines as an Enterprise Zone, namely
"The Government therefore envisages
that Enterprise Zones will generally be based on ‘clean’ sites with little or no business occupants. Targeting such sites will reduce the risks of simply favouring incumbent businesses with little added value to the economy of the area."
I would have thought that would rule out the city centre unless our Local Enterprise Partnership(LEP) knows something I don't. God knows we need something to stimulate the city centre and this just might make Westfield get off their backsides but it may be just more pie in the sky.
Andy2010
says...
10:49am Thu 26 May 11
bradford rose
says...
12:04pm Thu 26 May 11
And the T&A just can't resist bringing up at every opportunity "the New Victoria Place scheme on the site of the former Odeon."
It's still standing T&A, - long may it continue to do so, even in its present state.
Rather that than another "award winning" specimen of utilitarian modernity.
John_Philips
says...
12:57pm Thu 26 May 11
..
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'Would' and 'claimed' being the operative words here...
baildon boy
says...
12:59pm Thu 26 May 11
bigo93
says...
1:10pm Thu 26 May 11
And remember to add deadlines and conditions if this is to happen, just look what's happened to Westfield, no deadlines means they can leave it as it is, bet if they knew there could be fines, Westfield would be built by now!
It seems to be the council has not learned from its mistakes with Westfield, all they see is this "vision" and think it's great, but then have no idea how to go about it.
Avro
says...
1:25pm Thu 26 May 11
The interesting thing about Enterprise Zones is that the Zones are generally be based on ‘clean’ sites with little or no business occupants, what has Green in mind - Totally flatten the city centre??
Rambo
says...
1:39pm Thu 26 May 11
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This is ridiculous - we've had articles on here about the high number of bookies in the city and now we have another. I wonder how many others have planning applications?
SteveW56
says...
2:35pm Thu 26 May 11
If and Enterprise Zone is created here then heaven help us if Planning inertia causes failure.
I recall the 'Bradford's Bouncing Back' and other campaigns where money was to come to the City, but a combination of rule changes by the Government and lack of proper direction and management by the Council resulted in many things not happening, and the words 'could' and 'might', used everywhere, became 'couldn't' and 'didn't'.
Walking from the Shearbridge area to Foster Square this morning, the first time for years, I was utterly appalled at the decline and shabbiness in our City.
I would like to convince Developer Clients to invest in the City but the attitude in the Industry is that money is short enough without 'throwing good after bad' and inwardly investing in a city where returns are so low and commercial risks so high.
If the EZ works, then it may help, but first of all the Council have to close the deal and get the designation.
It may well be the last chance for the City, and we have to rely on the Council.............
...
BD16
says...
2:38pm Thu 26 May 11
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If any city in this country needs this investment it's Bradford. We might start to feel a bit of pride in the place again.
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Wonder how many consultants are making a killing on this one?
pweibj67
says...
3:43pm Thu 26 May 11
think the whole of the area would accept TWO shops opening in the city centre ... its a much more realistic target!
THIS WILL NOT HAPPEN .. NO IM NOT BEING NEGATIVE .. BEFORE ANY FREAKY BLIND POSITIVE PEOPLE JUMP ON ME .. I JUST LIVE IN THE REAL WORLD AND IN BRADFORD
spanglishbull.uk
says...
4:44pm Thu 26 May 11
Patrick Bateman
says...
4:55pm Thu 26 May 11
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‘Overcome some hurdles’? Oh dear: already the portents are already in evidence...
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Not strictly ‘on topic’ but I had the rare opportunity to go into Bradford this afternoon so I thought I would check out the general state of the place in light of the many comments on this forum, The place was quite busy in and around the Arndale Centre but was almost deserted in other areas (in particular the Centenary Square area). After a general walk around the shopping district (and despite the fine weather) the impression I was left with was far from good: the general level of deprivation was quite evident. I made a particular point of visiting the notorious Barker’s newsagents and can confirm that there are no crossbows on display. I’ve not been inside the shop before so I thought I’d take a look. I was quite sickened by what I saw The shop is divided into halves: on the right it seems like a normal newsagents (sweets, fags, papers and so on) but on the left it almost looks like a gun-runners trade fair. Row upon row of imitation firearms, BB guns and ‘display’ weaponry all neatly presented and displayed on the walls or within glass cabinets. They obviously must sell shed-loads of this stuff if over half the shop is dedicated to it. It’s a sobering thought that there must be a sizeable minority of people in Bradford that buy this offensive and dangerous cr@p. Oh, they also do a nice line in balaclavas and other items to disguise ones identity (I wonder why?)
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On the way back to my car I was accosted by a chap outside that shoe shop opposite Rawcliffe’s who asked whether I ‘had any spare change’. I thought to myself, ‘Mmm..maybe Moon OAS isn’t exaggerating the begging problem after all’.
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I won’t be retuning any time soon.
Moon on a stick
says...
6:14pm Thu 26 May 11
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Even Kirkgate as Rambo observed is gradually step by step seeing the same issues the other streets have. Today a Labrokes, but will tomorrow bring a William Hill? Already one shop is relocating away from Ladbrokes, how long before more follow?
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Photo here:
http://tiny.cc/h0wsx
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Out of interest how many police officers did you see on your travel around the city centre?
cylon 2
says...
6:44pm Thu 26 May 11
Two building sites, that have basically cut the city centre in two, shall Bradford Council make it THREE ?
El Marco
says...
7:13pm Thu 26 May 11
BD16
says...
7:22pm Thu 26 May 11
Patrick Bateman wrote:I had a similar experience not too long ago. One of the kids had a party to go to at the leisure exchange so whilst they were bowling I decided to take a stroll. Not nice at all. I felt like a stranger in my home town. I never felt threatened but it wasn't a nice to be and I won't be doing it again any time soon.
The T and A said, ‘Despite the strength of Bradford’s offer it still has to overcome some hurdles before a zone can be created – notably, rival bids from other areas of the Leeds City Region’. . ‘Overcome some hurdles’? Oh dear: already the portents are already in evidence... . Not strictly ‘on topic’ but I had the rare opportunity to go into Bradford this afternoon so I thought I would check out the general state of the place in light of the many comments on this forum, The place was quite busy in and around the Arndale Centre but was almost deserted in other areas (in particular the Centenary Square area). After a general walk around the shopping district (and despite the fine weather) the impression I was left with was far from good: the general level of deprivation was quite evident. I made a particular point of visiting the notorious Barker’s newsagents and can confirm that there are no crossbows on display. I’ve not been inside the shop before so I thought I’d take a look. I was quite sickened by what I saw The shop is divided into halves: on the right it seems like a normal newsagents (sweets, fags, papers and so on) but on the left it almost looks like a gun-runners trade fair. Row upon row of imitation firearms, BB guns and ‘display’ weaponry all neatly presented and displayed on the walls or within glass cabinets. They obviously must sell shed-loads of this stuff if over half the shop is dedicated to it. It’s a sobering thought that there must be a sizeable minority of people in Bradford that buy this offensive and dangerous cr@p. Oh, they also do a nice line in balaclavas and other items to disguise ones identity (I wonder why?) . On the way back to my car I was accosted by a chap outside that shoe shop opposite Rawcliffe’s who asked whether I ‘had any spare change’. I thought to myself, ‘Mmm..maybe Moon OAS isn’t exaggerating the begging problem after all’. . I won’t be retuning any time soon.
cylon 2
says...
7:42pm Thu 26 May 11
El Marco wrote:Well he microwaves his samosa's, so their well soggy, go to the same place, swing 45 degrees left and walk straight foreword, another pakistani takeaway, but cheaper, and this guy deepfries evreything, nice crispy samosa's, just how they should be.
Another joke article. I had to go into the urban deriliction that is Bradford today for the first time in 6 months. The place becomes more vile every time I go in. The Rawson Quarter what's that all about, The old Mecca just waiting for the wrecking ball, add to that the benefit claimant festival that is the Arndale and we have a full and unadulterated dump. I did pop into an old haunt, the Pakistani take-away just on the right as you enter John St Market. The food is as brilliant as ever and the long serving owner a great bloke. Enterprise Zone? A billion pounds. Do me a favour.
jj83
says...
7:52pm Thu 26 May 11
Yorkshire Lass
says...
7:55pm Thu 26 May 11
Yorkshire Lass
says...
7:59pm Thu 26 May 11
cylon 2
says...
8:01pm Thu 26 May 11
Doe's this sound familiar or what ?
heritage2
says...
10:52pm Thu 26 May 11
TruthTold
says...
1:09am Fri 27 May 11
Being cynical I also have other questions. How many of the 5000 jobs will be time limited construction jobs for Westfield? How many of these jobs will go to local people? Where will the customers, for the no doubt expensive shops, in the new shopping centre come from when people in Bfd have very little spare money? What happens to these shops if they are no longer viable when the b.rates return to normal? will they close or will the rest of the area be expected to support them indefinitely? Is thee relaxation of Planning rules going to lead to a repeat of the mistakes made in the 60's?
It's time someone in Bfd Council took off the blinkers and stopped looking for a quick fix and started taking a realistic look at the long term future for the WHOLE of the district, then we might get somewhere.
johnny yen
says...
7:15am Fri 27 May 11
yorkshiredude
says...
10:07am Fri 27 May 11
Yorkshire Lass wrote:If the betting shop was previously an 'A2' use - i.e. a bank, estate agent, recruitment agency, 'A3' café / restaurant, 'A4' use pub or 'A5' use - takeaway - there's nothing that planners can do about it changing.
p.s. Another betting shop opens in the City Centre today- just what everyone wants! When are these planners going to start earning their salaries and give the public what they want not what they think we all want.
So to stop this happening, shops are limited to 'A1' use, which as a result we have a high no. of vacant shops because there isn't the demand there for people because the shop units are obsolete. This means shops are empty, there's less footfall - rents / rates are too high and more retailers leave. The solution is to build more, up-to-date retail floorspace, which was given the go-ahead by planners many moons ago - but for various reasons have not been developed.
What do you suggest planners do then eh?
johnny yen
says...
11:55am Fri 27 May 11
yorkshiredude wrote:You can only market a shopping centre to the needs of the people it serves, therefore poundshops, bookies and mobile shops are all that's required in Bradford.
Yorkshire Lass wrote: p.s. Another betting shop opens in the City Centre today- just what everyone wants! When are these planners going to start earning their salaries and give the public what they want not what they think we all want.If the betting shop was previously an 'A2' use - i.e. a bank, estate agent, recruitment agency, 'A3' café / restaurant, 'A4' use pub or 'A5' use - takeaway - there's nothing that planners can do about it changing. So to stop this happening, shops are limited to 'A1' use, which as a result we have a high no. of vacant shops because there isn't the demand there for people because the shop units are obsolete. This means shops are empty, there's less footfall - rents / rates are too high and more retailers leave. The solution is to build more, up-to-date retail floorspace, which was given the go-ahead by planners many moons ago - but for various reasons have not been developed. What do you suggest planners do then eh?
Moon on a stick
says...
12:42pm Fri 27 May 11
yorkshiredude wrote:Licensing could have stopped it, for a betting shop you often need a change of use (this time that wasn't necessary from what you have said), but you still need a gambling license.
Yorkshire Lass wrote:If the betting shop was previously an 'A2' use - i.e. a bank, estate agent, recruitment agency, 'A3' café / restaurant, 'A4' use pub or 'A5' use - takeaway - there's nothing that planners can do about it changing.
p.s. Another betting shop opens in the City Centre today- just what everyone wants! When are these planners going to start earning their salaries and give the public what they want not what they think we all want.
So to stop this happening, shops are limited to 'A1' use, which as a result we have a high no. of vacant shops because there isn't the demand there for people because the shop units are obsolete. This means shops are empty, there's less footfall - rents / rates are too high and more retailers leave. The solution is to build more, up-to-date retail floorspace, which was given the go-ahead by planners many moons ago - but for various reasons have not been developed.
What do you suggest planners do then eh?
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The council could put a saturation policy into the licensing guidance. Clearly someone in the Council either doesn't care or wants more bookies in the centre.
basil fawlty
says...
2:20pm Fri 27 May 11
the Laird
says...
4:12pm Fri 27 May 11
Maybe its a case of, lets put in the for being an Enterprise Zone, then if we dont get it we can blame someone else for the demise of the City Centre!
Just lets hope the Council arent thinking of drafting in outside "consultants" to waste another £1m in fees for nil return(again)
Moon on a stick
says...
4:40pm Fri 27 May 11
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Sounds about right.
jj83
says...
6:33pm Fri 27 May 11
Moon on a stick wrote:Bradford Council are damned if they do, damned if they don't it seems...
"Maybe its a case of, lets put in the for being an Enterprise Zone, then if we dont get it we can blame someone else for the demise of the City Centre!"
.
Sounds about right.
jj83
says...
6:59pm Fri 27 May 11
TruthTold wrote:Did you read the whole story?
Are we laying bets that if Bradford does not get the Enterpise Zone that Westfield will find another excuse not to build, after all it will not beable to use the "carrot" of low business rates if this does not go ahead. Have the council thought how having the centre as an EZ will affect the outer areas, which are all supposed to be part of Bradford and desrve as much concideration as the "Centre". Will the cheap business rates in the EZ drain any industry out of the other urban centres. turning them into "dormitory towns", which has long been the plan, and having all the employment concentrated centrally. This in turn will mean that extra pressure is put on the already overstretched Aire Valley transport corridor. Will investment be made there?
Being cynical I also have other questions. How many of the 5000 jobs will be time limited construction jobs for Westfield? How many of these jobs will go to local people? Where will the customers, for the no doubt expensive shops, in the new shopping centre come from when people in Bfd have very little spare money? What happens to these shops if they are no longer viable when the b.rates return to normal? will they close or will the rest of the area be expected to support them indefinitely? Is thee relaxation of Planning rules going to lead to a repeat of the mistakes made in the 60's?
It's time someone in Bfd Council took off the blinkers and stopped looking for a quick fix and started taking a realistic look at the long term future for the WHOLE of the district, then we might get somewhere.
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Coun Green said he was “aware of concerns” over a Bradford zone taking away business from surrounding areas.
But he said: “The Bradford enterprise zone would create a significant pot of money very quickly, which can be re-invested to support business growth and new business start-ups outside of the zone."
Moon on a stick
says...
11:48pm Fri 27 May 11
jj83 wrote:Who's not reading now, I said I hope they get the Enterprise Zone and I also hope they invest some of the money policing the centre or manning the CCTV so people can walk home safe at night (or daytime for that matter).
Moon on a stick wrote:Bradford Council are damned if they do, damned if they don't it seems...
"Maybe its a case of, lets put in the for being an Enterprise Zone, then if we dont get it we can blame someone else for the demise of the City Centre!"
.
Sounds about right.
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Simples.
Moon on a stick says...
9:05am Thu 26 May 11
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Maybe with the extra wealth, the city could then afford to employ one PC or one person to view the city centre CCTV at night so our kids can go out drinking without getting attacked going to their cabs.