City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council - Retail Development - Bradford, The Broadway
Date: 18 Mar 2004
Bradford is taking a significant step forward with the regeneration of a key part of the city centre. Demolition started this week on two large 1960s buildings, which are being pulled down to make way for a new commercial development at the Broadway.
The work is a tangible sign that the two-level 46,450 sq m (500,000 sq ft) shopping centre development — the largest scheme of its kind in the pipeline in West Yorkshire — is underway.
Bradford Council, which is working in partnership with property group Stannifer on the 6.4 ha (16 acre) Broadway site, has started on a £20 million programme — Connecting the City — which will allow construction of the Broadway shopping centre.
Connecting the City includes the demolition of Forster House and Midland House, site remediation, road and drainage network alterations and environmental improvements, which will transform one of the most central parts of the city into a vibrant area, including shops, a new department store, offices, apartments and car parking.
Local schoolchildren, who had taken part in a Council-sponsored building site safety campaign, started a countdown to mark the demolition of the first building. The Connecting the City project has been designed by the Council’s Transportation & Planning Department. Additional funding has come from the European Union’s Objective II Fund, Regen 2000 and the Department for Transport. Mowlem has been appointed as the main contractor.
The Broadway development is seen as the core regeneration project for the heart of Bradford city centre and will act as an essential catalyst for future investment in the area. Negotiations with a number of key high street stores are well advanced and Stannifer expects to announce further lettings shortly to retailers who will join the major new tenants Debenhams and Bhs.
Councillor Simon Cooke, Executive Member for Regeneration at Bradford Council said: “The Council and the development partners have put an enormous amount of work into the Connecting the City programme to pave the way for the new Broadway scheme. Today, marks an exciting new phase in the regeneration of the city centre and over the next few months people will see a lot of activity on site.”
Bradford Council Leader, Councillor Margaret Eaton said: “The start of demolition represents an important milestone towards the redevelopment of Broadway and Forster Square. We have worked very closely with the developer Stannifer, Mowlem Plc and the funding partners for Connecting the City to take forward this multi million pound project. This is an exciting time for the City.”
Ron Barrott, chief executive of Stannifer, commented: “We have been working with the council for some time and it is most heartening to be able to see work starting on site. We appreciate the huge significance of the Broadway development to the future of the City and are in detailed negotiations with leading retailers who are attracted by the opportunities the redeveloped Broadway quarter will have to offer.”
Demolition work is being carried out by Controlled Demolition Group. Joint letting agents for Broadway are Lunson Mitchenall and Simon Lyons & Co.
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