Bradford MP urges Government to back £50 million Odsal plan

Yesterday Judith Cummins MP invited Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng and Treasury Minister Felicity Buchan to meet over the ‘once-in-a-generation’ regeneration bid.

Ms Cummins is a keen supporter of the venture that will deliver a world-class music, culture, and sports arena, a park-and-ride car park, and a sports training complex, with pitches for local groups to use, generating almost five hundred full-time jobs, and creating long-term opportunities in the constituency.

Speaking in Parliament at Treasury Questions, Ms Cummins asked Mr Buchan what measures the Government was taking to deliver on the Levelling Up Agenda in full.

Bradford South MP Judith Cummins (Image: Google)

She asked: “Building on the back of Bradford’s City of Culture win, and in this momentous year for rugby league, I am supporting the plan for the transformation and regeneration of the home of the Bradford Bulls, the iconic Odsal Stadium, to become a world-class sports, music and culture arena.

“This plan would be an incubator for the ambitions of the entire Bradford district, delivering over a billion pounds worth of socio-economic benefits.

"Following the Bank of England’s repeated interventions, can the minister confirm the Levelling Up Fund Round 2 will still be going ahead in full, and will the Minister and the Chancellor demonstrate this by meeting with me, Bradford Council, the Bradford Bulls and the RFL to discuss our catalyst for growth?”

Responding, the Treasury Minister confirmed: “We will be going ahead with a second round of the levelling up fund in full, and there should be decisions by the end of the year.

An artist's impression of the planned redevelopment (Image: Google)

"I wish her well in her bid and there is an independent assessment going on with the bids at the moment, if it is possible to meet then we would do that.”

Speaking afterwards, Ms Cummings said: “This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to deliver on Levelling Up for the people of Bradford South.

"Our ambitious £50 million bid would deliver investment directly into the area, giving my constituents better local services, more job opportunities and access to a world-class sport and music venue. 

An artist's impression of how a concert could look at the new Odsal stadium (Image: Google)

"Independent analysis repeatedly identifies Bradford as the strongest economic candidate for levelling up. We’ve heard a lot from the government over the last few years and seen little delivery.

"I look forward to meeting with the Treasury to discuss our bid further and to push for the investment in Bradford South that we need and deserve.”