Bradford puts £43.5m TCF support to work
Balfour Beatty will begin this week on the Transforming Cities Fund programme, delivered through the West Yorkshire Combined Authority.
A new linear park will be created to replace the majority of the existing road space on Hall Ings, featuring new trees and other types of planting.
Demolition of the NCP car park is also due to start from late July to enable a new access point to the Interchange. Together, these elements are intended to create a dramatically improved sense of arrival to the city centre.
Work on the city centre project will take place over two phases, the first of which will see enabling works on road and pavements around the city centre. This phase of work will create the new routes for bus services around the city centre’s heart. Bus services will move to the new routes from February 2024.
The second phase of construction works will begin in 2024 and will create the new public spaces and walking and cycling routes in the city centre heart, with the vast majority of work due to be completed in time for the City of Culture celebrations starting in 2025.
Bradford Council said that disruption and delays to journeys to and from the city centre are likely from the start of construction until the core elements of the works are completed in late December. Improved walking and cycling routes are as key element of the plans.
Bradford’s strategic director for regeneration, David Shepherd, said: “We want to offer a city centre destination that encourages our residents to visit the city centre more often. We also want visitors to have a better sense of arrival and a positive experience meaning they keep coming back.
“This scheme will improve the look and feel of the city centre by reducing the dominance of road vehicles creating a calmer place for people to meet, relax, shop, work and socialise.”
Tracy Brabin, the Mayor of West Yorkshire said: “We are investing millions of pounds to transform Bradford, and making it easier for people to get around by walking, cycling and using public transport is a huge part of our journey towards creating a more inclusive and better-connected region.
“This is a great example of how we are making the city an even better place to live, work and visit in the run-up to its year as UK City of Culture in 2025.”
