Square planned to link Bradford shopping centres

A NEW square could be created in the centre of a Yorkshire city as part of a scheme to link an existing shopping district with a much-delayed multi-million pound development.

If councillors back the plans, £1.2m will be spent improving Kirkgate at the heart of the retail area in Bradford.

A new Kirkgate square will be created at the junction with Darley Street and new stone paving will replace the existing concrete slabs and grey herringbone surface along the length of the road.

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Semi-mature trees, raised grassy areas and granite seating similar to those in City Park will be installed making it a “cleaner greener” thoroughfare linking with Westfield’s new Broadway shopping development to the Kirkgate Centre.

Building work on the long-awaited £260m Westfield shopping centre finally began last month after the scheme had been beset by delays. The new centre, set to fill the large hole in the heart of the city, is expected to create 1,500 construction jobs and 2,500 retail jobs for Bradford.

The work on Kirkgate would be paid for with Regional Growth Fund money. The area is virtually the last to be upgraded with Darley Street, Prince’s Way, City Park and Market Street already complete.

Bradford Council leader David Green said: “The new Kirkgate square will create an informal meeting space and seating area and turning the whole street into a green pleasant space should increase footfall from both visitors and residents.

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“We are putting in this investment to ensure visitors flow to and from the new Westfield shopping development to the higher end of the city centre so that Bradford is a desirable shopping destination in its entirety. Work will be complete by December this year.”

Members of Bradford Council’s executive will be advised to back the proposals, including the creation of a new square to be completed by December, when they meet tomorrow.

A report to be considered by councillors warns that doing nothing will have a negative effect.

It says: “This key part of the retail centre will retain its tired and damaged mixture of surfaces and reinforce the Kirkgate Centre’s perceived secondary position compared to Westfield Broadway.”

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It says that the scheme will create the final point within the triangle linking City Park, Westfield Broadway and Kirkgate Centre within the city’s retail centre.

The report adds: “It will provide an important counterbalance to the proposed public realm around Westfield by enhancing the environment of the Kirkgate centre and introduce much needed “greening” with potential health benefits whilst using high quality surface materials with a design life of up to 50 years.”

It notes: “The public realm is to be improved around Westfield Broadway as an integral part of that development and opportunity should be taken to make streetscape enhancements adjacent to the Kirkgate Centre, to improve the external environment and maximise the benefit of the owner’s existing and planned investment.”

The changes have been welcomed by Bradford Chamber of Commerce.

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The Chamber’s president, Paul Mackie, said: “If the changes improve the public realm of Bradford city centre for businesses, shoppers and other visitors, then they are to be welcomed.

“All these measures, whether big or small, contribute towards making the visitor experience more attractive, and that is what businesses and residents want to see. We look forward to the work being completed.”

However, the report warns that there should be no further renewals or granting of street trading consents within the area to ensure emergency vehicles access on both stretches of Kirkgate and Darley Street.

The new planters and trees mean existing trading pitches will need to be removed.

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While the city centre business forum and Kirkgate Centre management were said to support the scheme, the report says there is a risk that the current street trader who operates a burger van at the junction of Darley Street and Kirkgate will object to the proposals.