Bradford Interchange bus station fate to be decided soon

The station - which is run by West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA) - has been shut since early January following a collapse of concrete within the Interchange basement car park.

According to WYCA, in-depth surveys to help determine the extent of the structural issues at the bus station are still ongoing. 

A report will be brought to the September 19 meeting of WYCA to determine next steps - either a permanent closure, partial reopening or full reopening. 

Following questions from the Telegraph & Argus, WYCA revealed last month it had allocated a budget of £300,000 for the surveys.

WYCA also confirmed the bus station closure had led to additional costs of between £204,000 and £238,000 per month.

This includes lost income due to the closure and costs to ensure the building is properly secured.

It means that come the September 19 meeting, the closure of the bus station will have cost taxpayers around £2million. 

WYCA also said it had invested more than £13m into repairing and maintaining the facility in the last decade.

The authority has admitted that the bus station - which was built in the mid-1970s - was "reaching the end of its expected 50-year lifespan".

The T&A asked WYCA why several millions of pounds of taxpayers' cash had been spent in recent years on the Interchange which, by the authority's own admission, was "becoming increasingly difficult to maintain and operate safely".

A WYCA spokesperson responded: "Public safety is our number one priority at Bradford Interchange bus station.

"We invested millions into the facility over the years to ensure it could continue to serve the people of Bradford safely.

"The efficient use of taxpayers' money has quite rightly also been at the heart of our decision-making, but we need more evidence from the surveys before we can come to a conclusion about the future of the Interchange."

The closure of Bradford's main bus station has caused much disruption (Image: Newsquest)

As previously reported by the T&A, major changes to long-standing proposals for a new "gateway" to Bradford Interchange - which also serves as a railway station - were revealed earlier this month.

The gateway scheme, funded by the Government's Transforming Cities Fund, involved the demolition of the NCP car park on Hall Ings and the creation of a new concourse leading to the Interchange.

However, the continued closure of the bus station section of the Interchange has meant these works cannot currently go ahead as planned, and a 'plan B' was drawn up to prevent the area from remaining a building site for 2025.

Bradford Council and WYCA have revealed that the gateway plan would be scaled down, with the former multi-storey car park becoming Hall Ings Park.

The drop-off and taxi area in front of the Interchange would become a new pedestrianised plaza, with the taxi rank moved to neighbouring Bridge Street.

Sections of the Interchange would also be re-opened, including the public toilets.

Now the planning application for this work has been submitted.

The work is described as 'Phase 1' - referring to the fact that the eventual plan is still to create the concourse once the future of the Interchange is clearer.

Referring to Hall Ings Park, the application says: "The pocket park will be suitable for casual use or small 'pop up' events in connection with the Bradford City of Culture 2025 programme.

"It will connect with the pedestrianised landscaping interventions on Hall Ings and will add to green infrastructure within the city centre."

WYCA's planning application will be considered by a Bradford Council planning committee in the coming weeks.

Mayor of West Yorkshire Tracy Brabin said: "Bradford's residents, passengers and visitors deserve a fitting gateway to the city.

"We know the closure of the Interchange has presented real challenges, but these works will help create a welcoming and attractive entry point for people visiting the city centre."

Councillor Alex Ross-Shaw, Bradford Council's portfolio holder for regeneration, planning and transport, said: "The closure of the bus station at the Interchange has presented a lot of challenges to our planned works in the area, but we've worked closely with WYCA on these plans, which will greatly improve the railway station of the Interchange as a gateway to the city."