TRADERS have welcomed new plans to prevent the top end of Bradford city centre being left behind when the Westfield shopping centre opens.

A major revamp of the internal layout of the Oastler Centre, including a hot food court and a communal eating area, will go hand-in hand with public realm improvements on surrounding streets, Bradford Council has revealed.

The Council said improvements to the Oastler Centre also included plans to provide a covered space for an outdoor market and events, and an expansion to the centre's food retail offering. In October, a two-day food and drink festival will run on nearby Northgate to mark the renewed focus on food, with the event designed to promote and support the market.

The Council is also consulting with the owners of the Kirkgate shopping centre to establish their plans for the centre and market to ensure they remain a significant retail destination.

The moves are set to give a boost to traders ahead of Westfield's Broadway centre opening in the bottom part of the city later this year.

COMMENT: FOOD CENTRE PLAN IS A TASTY PROPOSITION

With that in mind, the Council is developing plans to improve Darley Street to create better links between the Independent Quarter and the rest of the city centre.

Moves to merge the two Bradford Council-owned markets, Oastler Shopping Centre and Kirkgate Market, into one extra-large market were met with opposition from traders last year.

That proposal now appears to have been quashed by news of the Oastler revamp.

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The Oastler Centre plans have been backed by traders, who say it will help to allay fears

David Crompton, owner of AJ Pickup and Son Butchers, in the Oastler Centre, said: "It would prove that there is more to Bradford than the bottom end.

"Westfield have said that an estimated seven to nine million people would be coming into Bradford each year for Westfield.

"For the top end of town to get a share of that, we need some improvements, we need to shout about it.

"If we can put things in place to link both parts of the city, it would be good for businesses. We need an extra bus terminus up here.

"We also need additional parking to help the top end of town.

"Westfield will only have 400 parking spaces. But more parking at this end of town would cater for everybody."

Imti Mahmood, business partner at Sollys Fruit and Veg, said: "It is a good step for us.

"We need a revamp to the market and it will mean that we will be able to compete with other markets in Yorkshire and down south.

"They have identified how food is a good example to get people to come to the market. The plans are a breath of fresh air."

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Bradford Council is also speaking to the property owners and commercial agents of properties on Darley Street, including owners of the Kirkgate Centre, to find out their own investment plans will help make sure the top end of the city centre continues to thrive.

Catherine Riley, centre manager of the Kirkgate Centre, said: "We are delighted that both markets are to be retained.

"The market is an essential part of the diversity of the Kirkgate Centre.

"We are very supportive of the plans the council have put in place for the centre.

"We look forward to working with the council to support the implementation for their Darley Street plans."

The Oastler Centre improvements are also expected to complement recent activity in the Independent Quarter around North Parade, where a number of new bars, alongside many existing pubs, have benefitted extensively from the Council's £35 million City Centre Growth Zone, which has committed more than £12m to help regenerate the city.

Councillor Susan Hinchcliffe, Bradford Council's executive member for employment, skills and culture, said: "The markets are an essential part of the retail mix in Bradford city centre, attracting four million visitors a year.

"With the resurgence of North Parade, we see a real opportunity to link the Oastler Centre into this growing success story.

"At the same time we need to focus on how to regenerate Darley Street as a key retail route in the city centre.

"The Kirkgate shopping centre will remain a significant retail destination after Westfield opens."

Business rate rebates are being used to help firms in Darley Street and other areas, with deals lasting up to three years available to businesses in affected areas.