Little Germany is one of the jewels in central Bradford’s crown, rightly highlighted more than a decade ago as full of potential by no lesser an architectural commentator than Prince Charles.

And while recent years have seen some revitalisation of the area, most notably the Eastbrook Hall redevelopment, Bradford’s regeneration chief says things are not moving quickly enough.

Coun Dave Green says the much-heralded proposals for Little Germany to become a self-contained community within the city centre have stalled.

While Little Germany is home to many people who bought into the city centre living boom of the last decade, that has not been followed up with associated retail and leisure initiatives.

Perhaps when Westfield finally decide to take the Broadway shopping centre scheme out of mothballs – and surely some announcement must be due in 2011? – that might provide the impetus to take the brakes off Little Germany’s regeneration.

Of course, the recession and its financial hangover means that there simply isn’t the money to throw at such a project.

But if the Council and its partners can work towards attracting investment into Little Germany, coupled with renewed efforts to get the neighbouring Broadway scheme back on track, we may yet see this beautiful and fascinating quarter finally live up to its potential.