Serious doubts have been cast over the likelihood of a Cross Rail link for Bradford.

The projected £152 million costs of the suggested project ultimately renders it “impractical”, according to a report by City Hall planners.

A vision for the scheme, put together by businessmen Councillor John Pennington and Andrew Mason has been analysed and will be debated by Bradford Council’s regeneration scrutiny committee on Thursday.

The proposal is for a new rail connection between Bradford’s Forster Square and Interchange stations, with the stations themselves replaced by an iconic Bradford Central Station.

Its visionaries argue that the case for the rail link is “overwhelming” and would “position the city for recovery and strengthen the local economy for years to come”.

Planners admit the proposal comes in a window of opportunity when some of the land required is clear of buildings – a chance which might not arise again for 50 years or more.

While the report says the scheme could be “technically feasible” it draws doubts over its practicalities.

The line would sever the city centre from Little Germany and damage the city centre’s aesthetic appeal, says the report. If pursued, it could also reduce confidence in the Westfield shopping centre and courts relocation developments. The Government has re-commissioned a review into value for money in the UK rail industry and is unlikely to support expensive infrastructure schemes, the report says.

And it concludes that a Cross Rail scheme is extremely unlikely to offer value for money as it would only improve transport links to jobs to a limited extent and it would not be deliverable in the foreseeable future.

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