It is good news indeed for Bradford that Debenhams has announced plans for a three-storey store at the heart of the Broadway shopping development. That announcement should have widespread positive benefits for the city.

Bradford once had three department stores: Debenhams (formerly Busby's) on Manningham Lane; Brown, Muff's (later Rackhams) in Market Street; and Sunwin House. The last-named is now the only store in town flying the flag for that sort of shopping (and doing so in grand style following its expensive refurbishment).

With the new Debenhams store at the opposite end of town, Bradford will be a two-store city again - which is bound to give a boost to local pride.

The news of the store group's plans gives an important kick-start to the Broadway scheme and should encourage other multiples to sign up. This is a key scheme, vital to Bradford's future as a shopping city as it faces strong competition from out-of-town malls and neighbouring towns and cities.

There were many people who feared that the scheme might have stalled, a victim of the July riots and the predicted economic recession. The commitment by Debenhams to this city is a timely show of confidence in Bradford.

It might be some years before we are actually shopping in the new store - and before people from out of town are doing the same. There is a long way to go yet before the reshaping of Broadway and Forster Square actually begins, let alone is completed.

But by signing-up such an important name the development partnership taken a significant step towards that day, and will have worked wonders for Bradford morale.