TWO major developments that will help with the transformation of Bradford city centre have been discussed by council bosses.

At a meeting of Bradford Council's Executive yesterday, members agreed to progress with the development of One City Park and a new food market on Darley Street.

The schemes were described as reflecting the "shifting" nature of city centres.

One City Park is a proposed development of grade A office space due to be built on the former site of the Tyrls police station in City Park. It is expected to create around 450 jobs.

Yesterday the Executive gave the go ahead for officers to start the process to find a preferred development partner for the scheme.

Councillor Alex Ross Shaw, executive for regeneration, said: "A key focus is getting good jobs into the city centre. So much of our ambition around the centre's future is about getting the good jobs here. This is the best possible chance for us to attract top businesses."

The market development will see the former Marks & Spencer on Darley Street turned into a food market, with the existing Kirkgate Market becoming a non-food market. Oastler Market will be demolished and the site cleared for housing.

The executive was told that the last major Council investment in the city centre markets was when Oastler market was refurbished in 2002.

Cllr Ross Shaw spoke of the market development saying: "This is a really exciting project. We talk about One City Park, this market is exactly the type of business that will be supported by that. It is an exciting time for the city centre. There is still a lot more work to do.

"I put this image of the new market on social media and got a lot of great feedback from people who are as excited about this project as we are. Kirkgate Market will also be refurbished, and we are working positively the centre owners to make that market as strong as it can be. We're looking forward to be able to consult more with people to see what they want at the market.

"This project will also free up another key site in the city centre, Oastler Market, and we are looking at a mixed use with residential at the site.

"The city centre is shifting around, and this development is making a pro-active leap to reflect that."

Council Leader Susan Hinchcliffe added: "It is clear that the future of city centres is much more mixed. It used to be just retail, now it is retail, leisure and residential. This project will help that, and bring new vibrancy to the centre."

The executive voted to move forward with the next stage of the market scheme.