NEW images of the planned entrance to Bradford Interchange have been released – as preparation work to demolish the Hall Ings NCP begins.
The next stage of a public consultation into the £16m scheme to create a new “gateway” to the station has begun this week, and shows how the concrete car park will be replaced by a “pocket park” and new walkway.
The scheme is one of four being funded by the Government through its “Transforming Cities Fund”.
It will link to another major scheme, the pedestrianisation of Hall Ings.
Both schemes, being carried out by Bradford Council and West Yorkshire Combined Authority, are expected to be completed by late 2024.
Other changes to the station include relocating the taxi rank to Bridge Street to allow the front of the station to be pedestrianised, improved waiting areas, new baby changing, multi-faith room and ‘Changing Places’ facilities in the station, a new entrance to the underground car park and a new cycle hub nearby.
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Bradford Council purchased the NCP car park in 2017 for £4.15m, saying the site was part of long term plans to improve the Interchange.
The facility was closed last month, and work has now started to prepare it for demolition.
The consultation says: “The demolition of the NCP car park on Hall Ings will commence in the next few months and a new high-quality pocket park with new planting and greenery will be created in its place.
“A walkway would be created between this pocket park and the entrance just off Bridge Street. These changes would improve the whole look and feel of the area, delivering a new sense of vibrancy and opening up views of the iconic Town Hall for people arriving in the area.
“There would also be lighting columns and CCTV around the pocket park, walk-way and entrance to the Interchange to give a feeling of safety and security, particularly at night.”
The long-term future of the Interchange as a station is not clear. If Bradford city centre gets a stop on the proposed Northern Powerhouse Rail line, the plan is for it to be based at the former St James Market site on Wakefield Road.
Once this new station opens the Interchange would shut. Bradford Council has said it would leave the Interchange site as a "very valuable" development site in the city centre.
The consultation refers to this uncertainty by saying: “The development of this scheme enhances the area should future changes be made to the Interchange site and represents our ambition to provide quality infrastructure in the city cen-tre.”
The consultation is open until November 29.
To have your say visit https://www.yourvoice.westyorks-ca.gov.uk/bradfordinterchange
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