Ambitious plans to regenerate Bradford city centre will spark an economic boom, experts forecast today.

Researchers commissioned to examine the benefits of Bradford Centre Regeneration's radical master plan, prepared by international architects Will Alsop, predict it could bring in up to £265 million a year.

And the biggest impact - £131 million - will come from the vast Broadway shopping scheme for which building work will start early next year.

The research, by Mainstreet Advisors and the New Economics Foundation, has also underlined the desperate need to stem the exodus of shoppers from Bradford to other areas.

Their figures show that £769 million a year could be spent in Bradford shops, but £276 million is being spent outside. On the other hand only £100 million is spent by people coming into Bradford.

By comparison Leeds loses only 12 per cent of the £1.155 billion shopping expenditure to other areas and £427 million comes in.

But the researchers conclude that the city's new shopping schemes, including Broadway, will draw new customers from the whole of Yorkshire because of Bradford's proximity and accessibility.

And they predict that the office, shopping and leisure developments in the new-look city will lead to the creation of about 6,000 permanent and thousands of temporary jobs in the construction industry during the 15-year development time-scale of the master plan.

New attractions will extend the "honey pot" of activities for visitors, according to the researchers and would lead to an additional £8.9 million a year being brought in by tourism.

A conference centre, proposed as part of the master plan, could attract a further 140,625 people to the city and there would be more visits connected with business because of the increase in offices. It is estimated the business trips will bring between £22 million and £38 million a year to the new-look city.

The researchers say that the overall result will not just be an increase in the size of the "pie" throughout the district but retained rewards in well-being, prosperity and harmony.

Maud Marshall, chief executive of Bradford Centre Regeneration - the Urban Regeneration Company - said: "This assessment provides a well-researched report of the valuable economic benefits that the master plan will bring to Bradford.

"By helping to create increased prosperity in the city centre, the whole district will benefit."

Roland Clark, president of Bradford Chamber of Commerce, said: "The investment should create a multiplying effect spreading out to the rest of the district. That is why we support the imaginative and innovative plan."

Council leader Margaret Eaton said: "If you speak to anybody they will say we need to do something to revitalise the city when large figures are quoted, people are often cynical. But this is a big opportunity which we must take and work on."

Labour Group leader Ian Greenwood said: "If the master plan works it will inject very large amounts of money into Bradford and the benefits will be felt across the whole district. I welcome the findings of the research."

Councillor John Cole, of the Liberal Democrat group, said: "This research is hugely encouraging and underscores why we should be moving ahead with the master plan."

But Bradford North Labour MP Terry Rooney said the economic figures indicated the master plan was not ambitious enough.

"It includes the existing Broadway shopping scheme which is nothing whatsoever to do with the master plan. I would like to see a lot more than this," he said.

The Bradford Centre Regeneration blueprint, which includes a city centre lake, green spaces and new landmark buildings, is out for public consultation. It can be viewed at an exhibition in Market Street, Bradford, 10am and 4pm, Monday to Friday.

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