A “PARTICULARLY quiet” section of the city centre will be one of the areas to benefit from a multi-million-pound project.

Well Street separates the Broadway Shopping Centre from historic Little Germany, and is currently pedestrianised.

But from April, work will start to turn the street into a “public transport corridor” – the new route many buses will take through the centre.

It is part of Bradford’s Transforming Cities Fund works. 

On one side of the street is the Broadway Shopping Centre, and a row of units facing outwards onto Well Street.

None of these units have been occupied since Broadway opened in 2015.

And on the other side is a row of grand Victorian buildings, signifying the beginning of Little Germany.

Despite including some of the finest buildings in the city centre, a number of these buildings have been empty for some time, with others recently converted into flats.

Plans to open a hotel and bars on the street have been proposed, but never materialised.

Members of Bradford Council’s Executive were given an update on the Transforming Cities Fund schemes at a meeting on Tuesday morning.

The report to the Executive said the work to open up Well Street will begin in April and last for nine months.

Darren Badrock, project manager for Transforming Cities, said the work would “rejuvenate” a section of Leeds Road and Well Street, bringing many more people to an area that currently has little footfall.

The work will come as part of the Bradford City Centre Cycling and Walking scheme, which will see stretches of Bradford city centre pedestrianised.

Among the areas that will be closed off to traffic are Hall Ings and Market Street. The buses that use these streets will be diverted through other areas of the centre, including Well Street.

Norfolk Gardens will be extended onto the pedestrianised Hall Ings, creating a new park area.

The scheme was originally budgeted at £30m, but rising costs mean it will now cost closer to £38m.

Work is expected to be completed by late 2024.

Referring to the Well Street work at the meeting, Mr Badrock said: “It is fair to say this area is particularly quiet. Introducing a public transport corridor at the back of the Broadway and adding bus stops here will increase footfall.

“This will help kick start the regeneration of Little Germany and will help fill the units at the back of Broadway, which have never been taken up.

“The shopping centre is extremely happy at this plan – they see it as an opportunity to bring further business into the city.”