Council shows plans to double size of city centre

Plans to double the size of Bradford's city centre have been revealed by the council.

Illustrations outlining 5,000 new homes, a new railway station and more than a mile of walkable "green corridors" were revealed at the annual UKREiiF property conference in Leeds on Tuesday. They have been developed by Bradford Council, the government and consultancy firm Arup.

The Southern Gateway would see a 126-hectare (311 acre) site at the centre's current southern edge developed alongside existing transport and housing schemes.

Bradford Council Strategic Director for Place, David Shepherd, said it was a "pivotal moment" for the area.

"Our district is full of real opportunity and we now have the momentum to unlock this in way that can impact on a local, regional and national scale," he said.

The council said the regeneration would be driven by plans for a West Yorkshire Mass Transit system and new rail station for Bradford.

In January, the government committed to making a decision on the business case for a new rail station in Bradford by this summer, as part of the £45bn Northern Powerhouse Rail programme.

The plans for 5,000 homes also builds on the existing Bradford City Village scheme, which has promised 1,000 homes.

The walkable "green corridors" would connect Leeds Road, Manchester Road and Bowling to the city centre.

The scheme would also uncover Bradford's lost becks - the hidden streams that once flowed through Bradford but were covered during the industrial expansion.

Shepherd added: "The images show what this could mean for Bradford and how we can use public transit commitments to really lift our sights and to crowd in a new wave of private sector investment.

"Bradford's Southern Gateway is not only one of the biggest and most exciting regeneration opportunities in the UK; it's also our chance to become a leading model in transforming cities for the future."

Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.