Bradford Interchange redevelopment plans are submitted

The application is for a multi-million revamp of the area outside the transport hub to provide a pedestrian ‘plaza’ between Hall Ings and the Interchange’s entrance on Bridge Street.

The following works are proposed:

• The demolition of the taxi rank and access ramps to facilitate the creation of a ramped pedestrian walkway from Hall Ings to Bridge Street
• The partial demolition of the basement-level car park curtain wall and creation of a replacement facade wall
• The re-surfacing and cladding of exposed facades on Bradford Hotel, City Exchange and the Interchange car park/bus deck structure with render, timber cladding, and proprietary cladding
• The removal of the existing Interchange entrance canopy
• The removal of trees on the site, though the application says that existing mature trees will be retained where possible.
• The construction on the site of a new public realm scheme to include hard and soft landscaping, replacement tree planting, and areas for seating
• The construction of a new pedestrian entrance to the Interchange, including a new canopy
• The relocation of the taxi rank and blue badge parking onto Bridge Street
• The change of use of the footbridge over the Bradford Hotel from a publicly accessible walkway to a private access/egress associated with the hotel
• A new cycle hub towards the northern end of the site that will provide around 75 bike spaces.

The NCP will be flattened and a new entrance to the Interchange will be built in its place.

The application states: “The demolition of the NCP car park is not included within this development; but the subsequent redevelopment of this area into the public realm is within the scope of this application.”

An artist's impression of the new plaza in front of the Interchange (Image: Bradford Council) (Image: Bradford Council)

In outlining the plan, the application highlights that the Bradford Council area has a population of more than half a million people but the transport infrastructure within the city and its surrounding area isn't fully integrated and does not meet "the requirements of a diverse and growing population and economy”.

It adds: “There are two railway stations that terminate in the city: Bradford Forster Square (north) and Bradford Interchange (south).

“These are approximately 0.6km apart but are not connected by rail and transit between them is awkward for rail users who are unfamiliar with the city, who are travelling with luggage, or who have additional mobility needs.

“Bradford Interchange particularly suffers from its location, as Croft Street and Hall Ings serve as a physical and visual barrier to the rest of the city.

“The development proposals for the Interchange aim to tackle the issues identified above to create a welcoming, easily navigable, and open concourse and public realm which connects well with the surrounding streets and the city beyond, prioritising pedestrians and creating an intermodal hub that is fit for the 21st century and the future.”

The scheme is one of four being funded by the Government through its Transforming Cities Fund.

The application says it would create a “welcoming entrance and plaza” at Bradford Interchange and “increase and improve the opportunities for use of alternative modes of transport to the private car, helping to better meet the needs of those without access to the private car and encouraging those with access to the private car to consider using a more sustainable mode of travel”.

It adds: “This will help reduce carbon emissions and deliver many environmental and health benefits including improving regional air quality and reducing congestion on the local highway network.”

The application also touches on safety, saying that the redevelopment will provide a “safe and secure Interchange area, with appropriate lighting and CCTV camera provision to encourage all parts of the community to use the transport services and the Interchange”.

It adds: “The proposed development has also been designed with the ambition to provide suitable access provision for all users.”

The application says the redevelopment would deliver “significant economic, social and environmental benefits, in accordance with national and local planning policies”.

It adds: “The improvements to the station will assist with economic regeneration in Bradford; with improving transport into the city and to the regional and national rail and bus network; encouraging a modal shift to a more sustainable mode, and with cultural development through increasing equitable access to the Interchange and better revealing the significance of designated heritage assets.”