Bradford is the UKs number one levelling up opportunity and work is already underway on growing the economy and delivering key schemes in the city and district.

Bradford Council has a clear vision for jobs, growth and regeneration that with the right investment and the added strength of the UK City of Culture 2025 status will ensure that this is Bradford’s time to shine.

The recent announcement by the Prime Minister that Bradford will get a new station on the high-speed railway line to be built between Liverpool and Hull is a huge step forward and one of the key developments to the wider regeneration of the city and district – it is about unlocking economic and social opportunities for everyone.

Northern Powerhouse Rail will bring more than £167bn of annual economic output within a 35-minute journey of the city, it will create 27,000 new jobs, unlock a regeneration site three times the size of Canary Wharf and open up access to a labour market of 6.7 million people.

It will slash journey times to 10 minutes to Leeds and 22 minutes to Manchester, connecting businesses and workforces to existing, new and emerging markets across the North and beyond. It would connect the district’s young and entrepreneurial population to the Northern labour market as well as attracting investment and creating jobs in the district. It would also support the district’s aspiration for clean, sustainable and inclusive growth.

NPR will link Bradford’s economic assets and its firms, which are amongst the most productive in the North and named by Barclays as one of the best places to start a business in 2018, to the wider prime capabilities for the Northern Powerhouse in advanced manufacturing, digital and healthcare; and as one of the UK’s most diverse cities with high export businesses, NPR will also significantly reduce journey times to the main global gateways such as Manchester Airport.

The long term and transformational nature of the NPR scheme provides a unique opportunity for Bradford and the district but despite challenging times key regeneration schemes are ongoing including Darley Street Market, Grade A offices at One City Park and the NEC-operated concert and entertainment venue at Bradford Live, which are all making good progress.

As part of the wider regeneration programme the Council has also recently submitted a set of bold and ambitious Levelling Up bids totalling over £100m to deliver a wide range of economic, social and cultural benefits for the district. 

Many of the bids seek to address much-needed health and wellbeing outcomes, making significant contributions to reducing health inequalities.

An ambitious proposal has been submitted to build a world-leading regional skills centre for Rugby League and the largest covered stadium in England at Odsal.  The top-tier stadium could deliver over one £1bn of wider benefits to the Bradford District over ten years and pave the way for the Bulls to return to the Super League once again. The revamped Odsal venue could also support the district to capitalise on its City of Culture status by providing a world class stadium to stage high volume arts and entertainment events.

A new modern health and wellbeing centre, providing a wide range of medical services, training and function rooms and sports facilities has been proposed at the Karmand Centre in Barkerend.

And the Greenwood Centre in Wood Lane could be transformed into a new facility offering a range of health services, along with day care for older people and those with mental health support needs.

A new purpose-built sports facility could be developed at the Parkside Centre in Bowling Park using a match-funded bid to create a state-of-the-art cricket hall, gymnasium, multipurpose rooms, flexible offices, a meeting room and community café.

In Keighley a new Advanced Manufacturing hub could be reconfigured and expanded to include a new high-tech facility, supporting research and development in emerging technologies, such as advanced robotics.

And the Council proposes to partner with private developers to clear and upgrade six Keighley brownfield sites to provide 32,000 square metres of prime business space with the potential to host over 700 local jobs.

The Keighley Worth Valley Railway could be transformed into an enhanced rail transport hub offering workers a fast and efficient commute into the area.

Bingley Pool could be upgraded to an attractive, modern new leisure facility with six lane swimming pool, gym, studio and café.

And a new arts trail would provide an interactive link to Myrtle Park and Bingley town centre could receive a facelift with attractive new landscaping, seating and lighting, and a modern new cover for the market square.

These bids are on top of confirmed grants totalling £16.85 million for a number of exciting development projects in Keighley and Shipley.  The multi-million pound projects will provide new improved public spaces along with facilities that will help local people develop skills and training and also support local community wellbeing. The funding has been provided by Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC).

This will fund the following projects:

•  Town centre improvements to Shipley’s Market Square and the public spaces around it will receive £5.04 million. This project will also look to make improvements to transport connections around the town centre.
•  Town centre improvements in Keighley will receive £2.39 million. This funding will be used to better connect the town centre to the surrounding areas and will include infrastructure improvements to streets, squares and parks and will also look to promote walking and cycling.
•  A skills project will be developed in Keighley will provide space and facilities to develop local employment and entrepreneurship. It will deliver education and skills courses to adult learners of all ages to support transition to employment. The project will be run by Keighley College and will receive £0.91 million in funding.
•  A manufacturing, engineering future technologies centre will be developed at Keighley College with £3 million of funding. The training centre will specialise in providing local people with manufacturing and engineering skills. This will help address the skills gap for both academic and vocational skills at level 3. The hub will focus on areas of advanced engineering, textile manufacturing, maintenance and the technical support skills around these. It will also provide training in IT networks, cyber security and online marketing.
• A health, wellbeing and community campus in Shipley will get funding of £3 million. The campus will provide a range of innovative and integrated community support services. These will be delivered by a skilled workforce and a team of volunteers who are trained in engaging, assessing, motivating and giving people the tools to improve their health and wellbeing. The project will be developed with the Cellar Trust and Hale Project.
• A Sustainable Community Hub in Shipley will get funding of £2.51 million. The hub will offer volunteering, social community events, wellbeing and personal development opportunities. The project will be led by The Hive Community Arts initiative.

Bradford has hugely ambitious plans for the future and will build on the momentum that has already begun and the opportunities that Levelling UP, Northern Powerhouse Rail and UK City of Culture 2025 can bring to renew the wider regeneration plans and aspiration for the people and businesses of the district.