Agreement will help develop thousands of homes in Bradford

Homes England has agreed to a partnership with West Yorkshire Combined Authority that will involve work to develop 16 sites across the region for housing in the coming years.

It is thought to be just the third time the organisation has entered a “strategic place partnership.”

In Bradford the partnership will work on projects that could completely transform a number of sites in the city. They include;

Bradford city centre – Up to 4,000 homes could be built in the centre in the coming years. These would include the City Village scheme – a development of 1,000 homes in the city centre, some of which will be built on the current sites of the Kirkgate Shopping Centre and Oastler Market. Other sites where homes could be built include the Forster Square Regeneration Area, and the Western and Southern Gateway areas.

A map of the city centre - showing areas the planned city village will be developed (Image: Bradford Council)

New Bolton Woods – around 1,200 new homes could be built on Canal Road, between Bradford and Shipley Holme Wood “urban extension” – 2,000 new homes built to the West of the Holme Wood estate.

All these areas have been earmarked for housing in Bradford’s under development Local Plan.

Other areas that the partnership will look to plan housing for include areas around Brighouse – dubbed the Brighouse Garden Village scheme, and an area to the East of Otley.

A memorandum of understanding was signed between WYCA and Homes England at the UKREiiF real estate conference in Leeds yesterday.

Bradford Council also signed a pre-development agreement with Muse Places/English Cities Fund (ECF) - which brings together Muse Places, Legal and General and Homes England.

This agreement will begin the detailed preparation work to deliver the development of the City Village scheme, which has so far only been in very early stages.

Councillor Susan Hinchcliffe, Leader of Bradford Council, said: “Bradford is very much open for business, we’re one of the country’s biggest regeneration opportunities and attracting a range of major national partners to help us achieve our commercial ambitions along with a quality housing pipeline to support Bradford’s future growth.

“This is a really exciting time for the District, we are enabling a number transformational projects which will boost the energy and vibrancy of the city centre and position it perfectly for the future. Many of these projects are now nearing completion such as Bradford Live, One City Park, Darley Street Market and North Parade public realm improvement schemes and we are preparing for Bradford 2025 which will further strengthen our investment offer.

“Through this Strategic Place Partnership – only the third of its kind to be launched in the country - Homes England has demonstrated its support for our vision and ambition to transform prime sites across the district.”

Kersten England, Chief Executive of Bradford Council added: “City Village is one of our most significant developments, it will help set the tone for the future city centre residential offer and we are delighted to have secured this partnership with ECF to now take the scheme forward to delivery of 1,000 new homes in the City Centre.”

Mayor of West Yorkshire, Tracy Brabin said: “This couldn’t have come at a better time for Bradford. With City of Culture 2025 on the horizon, Bradford could be the shining beacon of ‘levelling up’, with a young diverse population and economic growth potential rivalling that of anywhere else in Britain.  “Working closely with Bradford Council and our private sector partners, we have ambitious plans to deliver safe, affordable and sustainable homes for all Bradfordians. Signing this historic agreement with Homes England today will help us considerably on that journey.”