Developer of Bradford Westfield shopping centre urges the city to work together

Duncan Bower, director of development and asset management at Westfield, said it was up to Westfield, businesses and Bradford council to work together to make sure opportunities arising from the new shopping centre were explored so that other areas of the city centre did not suffer as a result of the new development.

He said: “Opening a scheme like this for Bradford will have positive and negative impacts. It’s important for us, businesses and the council to work together. If you don’t have a plan, there can be missed opportunities but you need to consult with the population who live there as well as the people you want to bring into the city centre to bring the maximum benefit.”

Mr Bower was speaking at the latest meeting of the Bradford Property Forum, entitled What’s next with Westfield?, where he outlined plans for the first phase of the £275m revised scheme, which were approved last month.

It is expected to create 2,500 retail jobs with another 1,500 jobs during its construction.

The council said it was working hard to mitigate any effect to retailers at the top of the city centre when the Westfield Bradford development opens.

It is hoped that despite some retailers expected to move from Darley Street into the new centre, the total footfall will increase in the city centre as people, who do not currently shop in Bradford, return.

Barra Mac Ruairi, strategic director of regeneration at Bradford Council, said: “We think there is an opportunity for Westfield, Kirkgate shopping centre and the retail in between to deliver to different markets and complement each other.

“The council is taking strong steps forward to keep an eye on the space we have from Westfield and retailers to ensure continuity of the retail heart. We don’t want to dissipate it.”

Westfield said the plans, for 70 shops, included links to the existing prime shopping area to encourage shoppers to explore the rest of the city centre.

Neil Maclure, senior development executive at Westfield, said: “We are working with the city council on public realm improvements to flow down to the entrance of the centre.”

Debenhams and Marks and Spencer have been confirmed as anchor tenants but Mr Bower said a certain number of retailers must commit to the scheme before construction work starts, although he declined to comment how many.

He said the centre would take two years to build and would open either just before Christmas or Easter.

The scheme is slightly smaller than the original development, which was stalled in 2009. Other changes include building car parking spaces connected to the Debenhams and M&S stores. Plans includes 1,345 car parking spaces over three levels. Mr Maclure said receiving detailed planning permission for the new scheme had generated more confidence among retailers.

He added: “Bradford is still a fantastic opportunity for us.

“There is a big catchment area of 735,000 which is woefully under-provided for in the city centre so we are creating space to demand. There is an obvious opportunity for a department store.”

Mr Maclure said the shopping centre would have windows looking out to the cathedral.

Westfield also hopes to fill some of the surrounding streets with cafes, bars and restaurants, some with outdoor areas.

In addition, the shopping centre will benefit from a £17.6m pot of cash from the Regional Growth Fund, which Bradford Council will match.

The Westfield directors declined to comment on reports last month that Dutch investor Meyer Bergman was interested in taking a £120m stake in the retail scheme to push forward the 550,000 sq ft development in a joint venture.

We want H&M, plead young

Over half of young people in Bradford want to see fashion retailer H&M come to the city, according to a new survey.

Bradford Property Forum received around 300 responses to its online Young People’s Survey, which quizzed 15-25-year-olds on the future of Bradford city centre.

Better shops, improved safety, more reasons to come to the city and concern about crime were highlighted as the main concerns of those who responded.

Retailers Republic and Zara were also named as shops young people would like to see in Bradford along with restaurant chains Pizza Express and TGI Friday’s.