Muse, along with partners, is set to redevelop two Bradford shopping centres into residential spaces.
- The project, named City Village, is a collaboration between English Cities Fund, Bradford Council, Homes England and Legal & General.
- City Village will offer up to 1,000 new homes with additional amenities like shops and green areas.
- The redevelopment is supported by a £29.9m grant from Homes England, pending final approval.
- Demolition of the Oastler shopping centre will commence in summer 2025 to pave way for this significant regeneration.
Muse has taken a significant step forward in the transformation of Bradford city centre, signing a joint venture with Homes England and Legal & General to redevelop two shopping malls into housing. The collaboration aims to rejuvenate the area with a project known as City Village.
City Village, selected by Bradford Council as the preferred development project, is set to deliver up to 1,000 homes complemented by a mix of shops, cafes, restaurants, and open spaces. This project intends to revitalise the site currently occupied by the Oastler and Kirkgate shopping centres, bringing a fresh urban living experience to the heart of Bradford.
To facilitate this transformation, Bradford’s executive board has approved plans involving a grant funding agreement with Homes England, which includes £29.9 million earmarked for provisional brownfield infrastructure and land improvements. These funds are crucial in enhancing the road network and public spaces and supporting the demolition of the outdated shopping centres. Subject to final approval, the demolition of the Oastler centre is slated to begin in summer 2025.
The initial funding is expected to catalyse additional investments, enabling further phases of the masterplan that promise to significantly alter the city’s landscape. The regeneration effort reflects over 18 months of planning and collaboration between ECF and Bradford Council, ultimately resulting in ECF being approved as the council’s preferred development partner.
Planning preparations are now underway, with a full application anticipated by spring 2025. Alex Ross-Shaw, Bradford’s lead councillor for regeneration, expressed that the City Village is a key part of Bradford’s broader regeneration strategy, which is already witnessing other projects like One City Park and Darley Street Market moving towards completion. Through such initiatives, Bradford aims to redefine its city centre by improving housing quality, expanding public spaces, and enhancing street safety.
Ross-Shaw envisions a vibrant, sustainable neighbourhood that not only provides housing but also fosters new retail, dining, and business opportunities. With a focus on increasing city centre residency, the project also seeks to boost patronage for existing businesses along North Parade. The endorsement of this vision by the local government highlights the momentum building towards transforming Bradford into a more dynamic and attractive urban centre.
The Bradford City Village has brought together a team of specialists, including 5plus Architects, Re-form Landscape Architecture, Avison Young, Cushman & Wakefield, and Turner & Townsend, to ensure a comprehensive approach to urban regeneration.
The Bradford City Village project marks a pivotal move in the city’s regeneration strategy, aiming to enhance urban living standards.
