SIR – Recently I have seen architect’s drawings for the revised Westfield scheme in Bradford and understand that the City Council is well disposed to approve the plans.

If the project looks heart-sinkingly mediocre in illustration, which it does, what it would turn out to be in reality does not bear thinking about. It seems to be an identikit retail mall scheme of the lowest common denominator, using unimaginative materials and design. It does not characterise Bradford.

Bradford, with its remaining magnificent 19th century civic and industrial architecture, deserves far better than what amounts to an out-of-town retail bunker plonked down defiantly by cynical profit and accountant-driven off shore developers in front of the Cathedral, the old Post Office, Little Germany and the Midland Hotel.

No provision is made for the course of a much-needed cross-city centre rail link and new central station, for which there is considerable local support. Incredibly, neither the City Council nor Metro seem to think this is worth consideration.

It also must be said, of course, that the great danger of building a Westfield-type development in a city centre is that it will drain away business from the existing older parts of the city centre.

If this ill-judged scheme is to proceed, it ought to be cut back at its eastern/Well Street edge to preserve a corridor for the cross-rail link to be constructed in the future when the financial situation improves.

Dan Laythorpe, Kendal Bank, Little Woodhouse, Leeds