BUYING a multi storey car park in the city centre was key to future plans to improve Bradford Interchange, Councillors have been told.

The NCP car park on Hall Ings was purchased by Bradford Council last year for £4.15 million, and this week Council bosses clarified why the purchase was so key to the city’s regeneration.

At a meeting of the Regeneration and Environment Scrutiny Committee on Tuesday, the NCP car park was mentioned as part of two separate presentations.

Members of the Council’s estates team were giving an update to members on the authority’s property portfolio, and discussed how the car park is generating income for the Council.

The building is leased by the Council to NCP and generates an income of around £100,000 a year. It is one of a number of income generating properties owned by the Council.

A subsequent presentation on improvements to rail services in the district also saw the NCP mentioned.

Councillors had asked about proposed improvements to Bradford Interchange in the coming years.

Richard Gelder, Highways Services Manager, said the goal was to have a stop on the high speed Northern Powerhouse Rail line stop at or near the station. But that line is not expected to be running until 2030. Before then Mr Gelder said there would be improvements to the station including the re-location of the car park.

He added: “In the short term we will want to make better use of the Interchange. Do we look at demolishing the NCP car park to create a thoroughfare from the station to City Hall?”

Artist’s impressions of a regenerated Interchange released earlier this year seemed to show the NCP being flattened to make way for improved connectivity to the city centre.

Councillor David Heseltine (Cons, Bingley) said: “You say you might demolish the NCP, but we have only just heard that it is generating an income for the Council. Did we buy it to generate income or did we buy it to flatten?”

Councillor Alex Ross Shaw, portfolio holder for Regeneration, Planning and Transport, said: “Both, it was a strategic acquisition.

“It does help us increase revenue, and owning it also gives us a measure of control over future developments.

“We have to pay the mortgage on the NCP and make a profit, but if a future development looks right, then we will throw it into the mix. However we will still have to pay off the cost of the site.

“It is generating an income for the Council, but it is important we have control of development there.”