Inclusive Growth

The Built Environment and Regeneration of the district - Bradford is one of the UK’s major opportunity areas with c.£5bn of transformational transport schemes announced (Rail: Network North and Mass Transit). The city centre has also been designated as a major part of the West Yorkshire Investment Zone and the towns of Keighley and Shipley are benefiting from investment through the Towns Fund. These developments have vastly increased Bradford District’s overall development capacity and are the pre-cursors to boosting the overall productivity of the district and the wider North. To capture and sustain this productivity and GVA enhancement, the Council is applying a much stronger focus on delivery alongside our public sector and private sector partners. Development Frameworks for the city centre and principal towns and Concept Plans have recently been developed and a robust governance model has been established including the new Southern Gateway Board which incorporates key delivery partners such as DfT, DLUHC, Network Rail, Homes England and the Combined Authority.

Housing Growth: Bradford has re-committed to completing its Local Plan in 2025 and as part of large asset disposal programme is actively reviewing its approach to developing strategic housing sites. Pro-active work has also been undertaken to identify potential opportunities for new communities along the proposed West Yorkshire Mass Transit route(s) and other local transport hubs including the planned new Bradford city centre rail station. The Southern Gateway is shortlisted as West Yorkshire’s single largest spatial priority areas (SPA) and will deliver housing growth for neighbouring inner-city areas, alongside large housing site designations within the city centre. The market-making City Village scheme plans to deliver 1,000 new residential units in the core-city centre, is a partnership with English Cities Fund and is soon to receive a determination on a substantial application to Homes England for Brownfield, Infrastructure and Land funding.

UK City of Culture 2025 - The vision for Bradford District’s year of Culture, approved by Government through the selection process, is that by 2026:

• Bradford will have come of age and mobilised a new young generation of leaders and changemakers.
• Creativity will be celebrated in every home and every street.
• Our agile cultural and creative sector will be bigger, will have scaled up and will play a leading role in the growing economic success and sustainability of the district and the UK.
• Bradford’s reputation will be transformed, and a new and coherent identity will drive a destination of choice for national and international visitors to experience exceptional cultural activity and for artists to create outstanding work.
• The trajectory of the UK’s youngest and most exciting population is shifted and all district residents enjoy happier lives, better wellbeing, skills, and opportunities.

Achieving the objectives of 2025, is key to unlocking the potential of our place and our people. Therefore, effective, and collaborative working between the Culture Company and the council and a range of key stakeholders has now been established.