"Ten years from now Manningham will be a very different place with a very different reputation."

A bold statement maybe, but few are better positioned to comment than Tim Whitfield, of Bradford Council's regeneration and housing department.

As Mr Whitfield drove me around Manningham looking at sites earmarked for change, it became clear that he has built up an intrinsic knowledge of the area, its people and its potential since starting work with the Community Relations Council in 1977.

Starting out on Lumb Lane, he pointed to the Infirmary Fields on the left, a large expanse of open green space.

"We would like to see that improved as a park with play facilities," he said.

"Maybe there could be a bit of development in one corner to pay for the other facilities."

Further along Lumb Lane, we came to Drummond Mill - one of the major projects in the masterplan.

Mr Whitfield explained that plans are afoot for an exciting mixed-use development on the site, including business units, apartments, live work space and townhouses.

Just off Lumb Lane is Hallfield Road, where the Centre for Deaf People, which occupies one end of the old-fashioned street, is planning to redevelop the derelict adjoining buildings to uplift the feel of the whole terrace. This, as Mr Whitfield explained, is typical of the sort of small but significant change taking place on many traditional Manningham streets.

Further into Manningham, we came to the Green Lane flats, a group of unsightly blocks, thrown up at little cost in the 1960s to meet tough Government housing targets. These flats, owned by Bradford Community Housing Trust, are set to be demolished as part of the masterplan to make way for modern private and social housing.

Mr Whitfield said: "That's a really exciting development and we hope the work is done to a high standard."

Nearby, a vast and redundant building stands ready for redevelopment. The former Lund Humphries print works, on Priestman Street represents a site with genuine potential.

The derelict print works is one of a number of brownfield sites just off Carlisle Road and Drummond Road being looked at by English Partnerships for possible housing or employment use.

Mr Whitfield said: "The print works is totally wrecked and it's a blight to the area but English Partnerships is used to tackling difficult jobs and transforming sites which might be contaminated."

A stone's throw away on Carlisle Road is Manningham Sports Centre, where a big project to enhance facilities has been completed.

The centre, along with the Westbourne Grove Health Centre, represent continuing improvement to health and leisure facilities.

Next we came to the symbol of the area's rebirth, the ever-impressive Lister's Mill, where hundreds of apartments are being created on a site which stands for all that was great about Yorkshire's textile industry.

Mr Whitfield looked up at the imposing building and said: "This was, and still is, a massive project.

"What is happening here is remarkable and a real boost for people's confidence in the area."

He said the involvement of award-winning company Urban Splash in the development sends out a strong message to other developers across the nation.

"When Urban Splash gets involved, you can expect to see the property market lifting as in Manchester and Liverpool," said Mr Whitfield.

The potential to provide a link between two of the jewels in the Manningham crown can be found in nearby Victor Road.

This steep street, which is currently dominated by speed humps and uninspiring houses, runs from Lister's Mill down to Lister Park.

Mr Whitfield said: "We want to make the streetscape more pleasing to the eye to make it an attractive walk. We would like to get rid of the speed humps, sandblast the front of the buildings and plant more trees."

Manningham Lane has undergone similar environmental improvements with the promise of more to come.

Key to the Manningham Masterplan is the ability to connect the area to the city centre through a World Mile of specialist shops stretching up White Abbey Road.

Outlets selling jewellery and saris are already doing a roaring trade at the top of White Abbey Road, although the city centre may take more time to catch up, according to Mr Whitfield.

He said: "White Abbey Road is a wonderful story of transformation.

"It was the scene of the riots, and the morning after I spoke to shopkeepers who were devastated by the damage and thought nobody would ever shop there again.

"But, when you look what's happening now, it's phenomenal. At weekends, you usually have coaches from Lancashire parked up there so people can visit the top class shops."

Another symbol of Manningham's unwanted past is the site of the former BMW car show room in Oak Lane, which was burned to the ground during the riots.

But this plot of land is beginning to emerge from behind a dark cloud as a new build private development of town houses, retail units and flats takes shape.

Putting aside the masterplan's grand schemes for a minute, Mr Whitfield informed me that Manningham's real appeal lies in its "remarkable buildings" and the ability to renew these assets.

He said: "Going back in history, there were some wealthy people who lived in Manningham and built some fantastic buildings to live. These buildings are still there and largely intact but not as well looked after as they were in the past.

"All it takes is some straight-forward improvements to these properties for them to become tremendously attractive for residential use.

"People are waking up to that fact and are already buying some of the big properties and turning them into large family homes, converting them from business use or bedsits."

He pointed to Oakwell House, a proud building overlooking Oak Road, which was once a boys' home and a social services building. The grand house has now been bought and converted into a family home by a wealthy Asian family, many of whom are returning to Manningham with a new-found confidence in the area.

Basic improvements will also be carried out to homes in Southfield Square, Dickensian in its charm and beauty, and the superb Apsley Crescent, which would not look out of place in Bath.

The Manningham Masterplan might not yet be as high profile as the masterplans for Bradford city centre and Airedale.

But as Tim said: "It may be the smallest but, in many ways, it's the most important."

The Masterplan factfile
  • Launched in July 2005 and adopted by Bradford Council four months later.
  • Drawn up by consultants GVA Grimley.
  • The masterplan will be managed by Bradford Council and Yorkshire Forward.
  • Council funding of £245,000 over three years.
  • A small steering group, based on the Airedale Partnership, is the favoured option for the governance structure.

Click here to see Our View