Westfield last night confirmed it still planned to begin building its £320 million Bradford shopping centre before the end of this year.

The Australian-owned developer said it had seen “solid momentum” on the 56,000 sq ft Broadway development and revealed it has now discharged all the planning conditions it needs to start construction.

Retailers including Next, WHSmith, Vodafone and Phones 4U are signed up to the delayed scheme, along with anchor tenants Debenhams and Marks & Spencer.

A spokesman for the company, which yesterday celebrated the fifth anniversary of its Westfield London shopping centre, said: “Earlier this year, Westfield secured planning permission to create an additional third sales level for Debenhams and a number of new retailers are currently in contractual negotiations.

“Currently, half the floor space of the proposed centre is let by area.

“The exact start date remains subject to finalising pre-let retailer agreements, however, Westfield is working intensively on these to facilitate a start late in quarter four of 2013.”

A report to Bradford Council’s regeneration and economy overview and scrutiny committee earlier this month showed that more than half of the floor space for the shopping centre was now “spoken for” – with more retailers expected to sign up.

At the time, Westfield said it was looking to discharge three ‘pre-start conditions’ so construction could begin and hoped that would happen by mid-October.

Yesterday, a spokesman confirmed the conditions had now been ‘discharged’.

An update on progress on the project will be given to delegates at the Bradford Enterprise Network Event next month, where a representative from the company is expected to speak.

Other speakers at the free forum at Morrisons’ head office in Gain Lane on Thursday, November 14, will include Bradford East MP David Ward and Roy Barraclough, Bradford Council’s senior contract manager, who will outline how businesses can win Council contracts.

Meanwhile, the company yesterday confirmed shoppers would have to pay to park at Westfield Bradford when it opens.

The news comes a day after the Telegraph & Argus reported how Bradford Council had rejected an idea to offer shoppers in the city centre an hour’s free parking.

“As the new Broadway shopping centre is within the city centre, it is a planning policy requirement that use of the car park is managed to ensure its availability to shoppers and visitors and to deter its use by commuters,” the spokesman said.

“The car parking management including the pricing schedule will be agreed with Council closer to opening.”