bbc news: Planning approval clears first phase of Bradford City Village
Local planners have granted approval for the first phase of a major city-centre neighbourhood that will deliver hundreds of modern, energy-efficient homes and new public spaces. The consent green-lights the initial build of 33 townhouses centred on a community green and sets the direction for further phases across three central sites.
What Phase One will deliver
The approved Phase One focuses on Chain Street and will deliver 33 townhouses arranged around a new community green. The development includes a mix of two- and three-bedroom homes designed to meet a range of household needs, with each property provided a designated parking space. Planners say the homes will be modern and energy-efficient and will be supported by landscaping and improved public realm to help knit the new streetscape into the wider city centre.
The wider City Village masterplan spans three key sites in the city centre: the cleared former shopping centre site at Kirkgate, the former Oastler market area and car parks on Chain Street. The full neighbourhood is expected to deliver up to around 1, 000 homes across multiple phases, with a mix of townhouses and apartment blocks, public open spaces and active travel routes intended to prioritise walking and cycling.
Next steps, community concerns and the wider plan
Council leaders described the approval as a milestone for the city. "City Village shows the direction of the city centre for the next 10 years – quality housing, more public spaces and balancing retail against other uses that will bring more people into the city centre, " said the council leader, calling the scheme a potential benchmark for future urban living.
A detailed planning application for Phase Two will be submitted later this year, with outline permission already in place for further housing across the Oastler and Kirkgate sites. The broader proposals include additional townhouses, courtyard-led layouts and hundreds of apartments across the remaining parcels, alongside new commercial and leisure opportunities intended to complement the area’s independent traders.
At the same time, local councillors and community representatives have stressed the need for robust consultation on proposals for the disposal and redevelopment of council-owned land. Calls for a "proper" consultation reflect concerns about the future of public assets and the desire for clear guarantees on affordable housing provision, access to green space and support for businesses affected by demolition and construction work.
Project partners have also committed to supporting community-led initiatives: residents will be offered practical help to bring neglected spaces back into use as gardens and shared areas while the programme rolls out. Early engagement and local stewardship are being positioned as central to ensuring the new neighbourhood meets the needs of long-term residents as well as new arrivals.
Timetable and implications
Demolition and enabling works are expected to begin ahead of the larger construction phases, with specific timetables for each site to be confirmed once the next planning submissions are lodged and legal agreements are finalised. Partners say the scheme will be delivered alongside improvements to transport links and public infrastructure, aiming to create safer, greener and better-connected streets.
As the project moves from outline consent into detailed phases, officials and developers will need to manage the practical challenges of large-scale city-centre regeneration: securing funding agreements, coordinating demolition and construction, and maintaining clear communication with local residents and traders. If delivered as envisaged, the project will mark a significant shift in the city centre’s housing offer and public realm over the coming decade.
