ECF, the partnership between Homes England, Legal & General and Muse, has been appointed as the developer to help deliver Bradford's new sustainable City Village.

The ECF will partner Bradford Council after the appointment was approved in principle by the Council's Executive Board on Tuesday, November 5, subject to final contract agreements later this month.

Bradford City Village is set to deliver up to 1,000 new homes, including affordable homes, three new community parks and public spaces, along with shops, cafes, restaurants and offices.

The Council's Executive Board also approved plans to enter into a grant funding agreement with Homes England, the government's housing and regeneration agency, to release £29.9m of provisional Brownfield Infrastructure & Land (BIL) funding before the end of this year.

Sir Michael Lyons, Chair of ECF, said: "City Village is Bradford's most ambitious regeneration project in generations.

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"The funding made available by Homes England marks a significant step forward and demonstrates the commitment to ECF's partnership with Bradford Council and the future of the city centre, coinciding with the city's forthcoming UK City of Culture year.

"We're excited to continue to work with the Council, Homes England and West Yorkshire Combined Authority to help Bradford realise its full potential, transforming the city centre into a safe, sustainable and inclusive place where people will want to live, as well as work and visit."

The new funding will be used to make improvements to the road network and public spaces, as well as support the demolition of the Oastler and Kirkgate Shopping Centres.

The Oastler demolition is set to commence in summer 2025 and will enable the future regeneration opportunity to come forward.

It is hoped the initial BIL funding will also help attract further investment to unlock future phases of the masterplan, which aims to completely transform Bradford city centre.

Over the last 18 months, ECF has been working with Bradford Council to develop a masterplan, including extensive public consultation and engagement. ECF will now work in partnership with the Council to progress a planning application.

A second phase of public consultation will take place later this year, with an application expected to be submitted in spring 2025.

The wider project team for Bradford City Village also includes 5plus Architects, re-form Landscape Architecture, Avison Young, Cushman & Wakefield and Turner & Townsend. 

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