£2m boost to restore historic buildings to former glory

Historic buildings on roads including Ivegate, Bridge Street and Kirkgate will be eligible for funding to bring long empty buildings back into use, and remove tacky modern frontages from some of the city’s architectural gems.

The funding has come from Historic England, and the body says it will “make the area more attractive for future investment” as well as paying greater respect to Bradford’s past.

Work to create a Heritage Action Zone in the city centre was first suggested by Bradford Council last year. It would help repair and restore some of the city’s many grand buildings.

Today, Historic England has announced that Bradford Council would get £2m funding to implement such a zone.

One of the streets that could benefit (Image: T&A)

The three-year project would cover the historic heart of the city centre bordered by Bridge Street, Kirkgate and Sunbridge Road, extending to the Grade I listed City Hall.

Plans include improving shopfronts on Ivegate, one of the city’s oldest streets and one that has been blighted by unsympathetic shop fronts in recent years, and giving repair grants for prominent sites like the ‘Carters Block.’ That grand building, opposite City Hall and Centenary Square, has ground floor units including a betting shop and nail bar.

The project will also inform future plans for the conservation and wider reuse of the City Hall.

Historic England says a significant element of the Heritage Action Zone will be a community engagement and cultural programme, which will encourage local people to discover and celebrate the city’s rich heritage.

The Heritage Action Zone will coincide with some major changes in the city centre. Many of the streets that make up the HAZ are being pedestrianised as part of the Government funded Transforming Cities scheme.

Sunbridge Road - looking down to Bridge Street (Image: T&A)

The new Darley Street Market is due to open in Spring, and in the coming years several of the city’s more modern buildings will be flattened to make way for a housing development called the “City Village.”

Historic England has enjoyed success helping to breathe new life into other town and city centres through Heritage Action Zones.

The Government’s heritage champion recently delivered a £95 million regeneration programme across 67 high streets across England, including four in West Yorkshire, bringing more than 700 buildings back into productive use in left behind places, and engaging nearly three million people through a cultural programme that connected communities with their local high streets.

Duncan Wilson, Chief Executive of Historic England, said: “As the UK City of Culture 2025, Bradford has an opportunity to showcase its rich heritage while creating a vibrant, modern city centre.

A section of Kirkgate in Bradford city centre (Image: T&A)

“Our £2 million investment will not only rejuvenate important historic buildings but also make the area more attractive for future investment, benefiting both residents and visitors.”

Councillor Alex Ross-Shaw, Bradford Council’s Executive Member for Regeneration, Planning and Transport said: "We're thrilled to receive this significant investment from Historic England, which will play a crucial role in bringing Bradford's rich heritage back to life.

“This Heritage Action Zone will not only preserve our historic buildings but also drive regeneration in the heart of the city, helping us create a vibrant and thriving city centre as we head towards 2025 and our year as the UK City of Culture. By connecting our heritage with our future, we’re building a legacy that will benefit generations to come, boosting both local pride and economic growth."

One of the buildings covered by the scheme (Image: T&A)

James Mason, Chief Executive of the West and North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce, said: “Bradford is a city with an abundance of remarkable architecture. From the iconic City Hall and the newly transformed Bradford Live building to the historically significant Little Germany, the city's heritage is visible at every turn.

“Preserving this heritage is essential—not just for today, but for future generations—to foster civic pride and strengthen community bonds.

“While preservation can be expensive, it should be seen as an investment. A Heritage Action Zone will provide the necessary focus, acting as a catalyst for restoration, sustainability, and economic growth, attracting visitors from both Bradford and beyond.”

Signs of decay in the area of the city centre covered by the scheme (Image: T&A)

Si Cunningham, Chair of Bradford Civic Society, said: "Bringing a Heritage Action Zone to Bradford is a fantastic achievement for the city, and will have a noticeable positive impact on some of our oldest and most historic streets.

"The city centre's remarkable 19th Century buildings are a tremendous source of civic pride for the people of Bradford, and we now have a great opportunity to restore many of them to their former glory.

"Aside from architectural improvements, our new Heritage Action Zone will help bring some of the area's fascinating history and stories to life too. Judging by the success of similar initiatives in other cities, I think people will be very pleased with future results in Bradford."