I thought I’d use this month’s column to highlight the work Yorkshire Forward is still doing and is committed to doing in Bradford. With recent media coverage on Yorkshire Forward’s closure, you might assume that all work has come to a standstill – but let me assure you that is not the case.

City Park in the heart of the city centre is starting to take shape and is due to complete next summer. The £24.4m public realm will provide a flexible space for people to enjoy, bringing visitors to the city and setting Bradford apart from other cities. It will play a key part in the city’s regeneration, enhance the overall image, increase land and property prices and create a landscape for future investment.

The £150m landmark Lister Hills Sustainable Student Village is also due for completion in summer 2011, which forms part of the city’s Learning Quarter development, the largest scheme in the district’s regeneration.

You will have noticed that the Westgate Broadway development has had a facelift with temporary green spaces for Bradfordians to enjoy until the development resumes once the marketplace is ready. Yorkshire Forward stepped in to support the “meanwhile” use of the site when private investment stalled due to the recession.

And its not just regeneration that Yorkshire Forward is investing in. More than £3m has been invested in the Manufacturing Advisory Service which runs for another year. It provides practical hands-on assistance to help manufacturers boost productivity and improve competitiveness.

Enterprising Bradford has had over £4.5m to support the growth of new enterprise in deprived communities in Bradford, and works with third sector organisations to help them identify opportunities for growth, with the project coming to an end next year.

Yorkshire Forward may be closing in March 2012, but we are still working hard to ensure we get the best for the city and make sure our legacy continues once we close the doors, but I’m around for a while yet, so watch my column for more updates.