Bradford Council and the English Cities Fund (ECF), a partnership between Homes England, Legal & General and Muse, have secured planning permission to deliver 1,000 new energy-efficient homes in the West Yorkshire city.
The scheme, Bradford City Village, will be built across the ‘top of town’ area of the city, which encompasses Chain Street and the Oastler and Kirkgate shopping centres. The homes will include a mix of affordable and private-rented tenures.
Phase one of the project will include development of 33 townhouses on Chain Street centred on a new community green, featuring a mix of two- and three-bedroom homes. A further 64 two- and three-bedroom townhouses will be built on the northern Oastler site.
The first phase will also include supporting infrastructure works such as road improvements, landscaped public spaces and active travel routes to promote walking and cycling.
Bradford-based affordable housing provider Incommunities has been selected as ECF’s preferred funding partner to deliver the first phase of townhouses for sale and rent, subject to a final legal agreement.
Kirkgate Shopping Centre, built in the 1970s, will also be taken down to make way for future phases of the regeneration of the area. It will close later this year, with demolition beginning towards the end of 2026.
Susan Hinchcliffe, leader of Bradford Council, said: “This is a milestone moment in what will be a landmark chapter for our city, one that will unleash the full economic potential of Bradford as we align city centre improvements in housing, transport, retail and entertainment.
“City Village is so much more than a housing development; it will be transformative for the city centre – which was why it was recently announced as one of seven ‘game-changing’ regeneration projects in the district.
“It will build on unprecedented levels of recent investment into our transport and public infrastructure, and when combined with planned major national transport improvements on rail and mass transit, Bradford’s city centre residents will benefit from faster, reliable connectivity within and between city regions.”
Simon Dew, director of development management, Yorkshire and North East at ECF, added: “Now that we have planning approval, our ambitious vision for City Village will start to become a reality.
“The council is fully committed to continuing this momentum and has major ambitions for the future of this city. Using our knowledge and expertise in placemaking, we will continue to unlock its economic potential and deliver real change, cementing its growing reputation as a place where people can live, work and thrive.”
Last month, ECF secured planning permission for a 227-home development in Salford.
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