Demolition of NCP car park on Hall Ings to begin in November

The multi-storey car park, owned by Bradford Council, is due to be flattened to create a new “gateway” to Bradford Interchange.

The work will also tie in with plans to pedestrianise a stretch of Hall Ings.

These projects are being funded by the Transforming Cities Fund, a Government pot of cash that will include £80m for four infrastructure projects in Bradford.

An artist's impression of what the new entrance to the Interchange will look like from above (Image: Bradford Council)

A recent report into these projects has revealed that the demolition of the NCP car park will be the first stage of the Transforming Cities work.

Demolition is expected to last six months, and when the site is cleared it will be used as the site compound for the programme of works in the city centre.

Signs have recently been installed at the car park informing customers that it will “permanently close” on October 21.

It advises motorists that the nearest NCP car park is on Thornton Road.

An artist's impression of the planned Bridge Street entrance to the Interchange (Image: Bradford Council)

Bradford Council purchased the Hall Ings car park for £4.15m in 2017, saying the site was part of a long-term plan to improve the Interchange.

In recent years this plan has become clearer – the NCP will be flattened and a new entrance way to the station be built in its place, leading to a pedestiranised Hall Ings and extended Norfolk Gardens park.

A report into the Transforming Cities schemes that recently went to Bradford Council’s Executive said the Interchange work will “Focus on creating a new high-quality pedestrian access to the Interchange which would dramatically improve how it connects with and ties into the heart of the city centre.”

As well as creating a new entrance off Hall Ings, the Interchange work will involve the relocation of the taxi rank off Bridge Street to allow the front entrance of the station to be pedestrianised.

The Bridge Street entrance to Bradford Interchange (Image: Newsquest)

The report also says the work will “Improve connectivity within the Interchange between bus and train services.”

As previously reported in the T&A, the cost of the interchange works has risen from the initial budget of £13.2m to £16.4m.

The report to Executive said this was due to “inflationary pressures affecting construction pricing.”

The NCP car park on Hall Ings (Image: newsquest)

However, the scheme will still be fully funded, with the extra costs taken from other Transforming Cities projects.

At the Executive meeting Darren Badrock, project manager, said: “Once we take down the NCP car park we’ll have people coming out of the station and being greeted by a much more pleasant environment that presents a better view of the city.”