£34m boost for city centre on agenda

Bradford Council’s executive will be asked to endorse the creation of a new city centre growth zone next month which will support new and existing businesses that commit to investing in Bradford.

It will include a business rates relief scheme which would allow eligible businesses to claim back a proportion of their business rates if they create new job opportunities for local people.

It involves £17.2m investment from Bradford Council and £17.6m from Government, provisionally secured through the Regional Growth Fund.

Businesses based within the growth zone, which includes the long-delayed Broadway shopping centre, which is being developed by Westfield, would benefit from the rate relief, as well as other support. It is hoped the cash will help regenerate the city which has suffered from a series of stalled developments.