AN ENGINEER who has been used as an expert witness in court cases involving building safety has said the decision to close Bradford Interchange was correct.

The bus station is due to re-open early next year after a long awaited report into the building’s structure found that it was safe to do so – as long as precautions are put in place.

The bus station section of the transport hub has been shut since January after concrete fell from the structure into an underground car park.

The report that suggests the station can safely re-open, possibly as early as January, will be discussed by members of West Yorkshire Combined Authority’s Transport Committee next Monday.

Drawn up by engineering firm Jacobs, details of the report were published and discussed by WYCA officers at a meeting last month.

Although it suggests the Interchange can re-open, it says its age means the Authority should begin work on identifying a site for a new, more modern Interchange.

Now Dr Mike Webster, a forensic structural engineer and author of 40 published reports on structural safety, has lent support to the report’s findings.

Dr Webster has also been used by both defence and prosecution teams in cases involving allegations of gross negligence manslaughter and breaches of the Health and Safety at Work Act.

His comments on the Jacobs report say: “The condition of the Bradford Interchange is compatible with what I would expect of a 50-year-old reinforced concrete structure.

“In my opinion, since the incident with the delaminated concrete in January 2024, WYCA has taken the reasonably practicable steps to be expected of a competent Authority.

“Looking forward, my opinion is that WYCA has identified and proposed reasonably practicable steps for inspection, testing and assessment to address the uncertainties and assess the risks.

“This will help WYCA to develop plans for monitoring, remedial work or further investigation so that risks can be managed. However, WYCA should note that the duty to take all reasonably practicable steps to eliminate or minimise risk is a continuing one.”

He goes on to say that the Jacobs report’s findings that there was a “low” risk of the structure collapsing was “a reasonable one.” 

Dr Webster’s report paves the way for the Combined Authority to take a final decision to reopen by January at its next full meeting in a few weeks.

Mitigation measures to be implemented include structural monitoring through periodic safety inspections and the provision of netting in the basement, alongside a staged reopening and preparation of an incident management plan.

Councillor Susan Hinchcliffe, leader of Bradford Council and chair of the Combined Authority’s transport committee, said: “I’m relieved to see that the Combined Authority is now working towards re-opening the Bus Interchange. The report confirms that this can be done safely with the right steps in place."

The lower concourse of the Interchange is set to open by the end of this month to improve access to the Interchange railway station.