Bradford’s game-changing ‘City Village’ given the green light

Our new sustainable community which will transform Bradford’s former commercial core into a thriving new city centre neighbourhood has been granted planning approval.

Bradford City Village, which is being delivered by ECF – our partnership between Homes England, L&G and Muse, and Bradford Council, is to be built across the ‘Top of Town’ area, which includes the Oastler, Kirkgate and Chain Street locations.

This flagship community will create up to 1,000 modern, energy-efficient homes – including a mix of affordable and private rented tenures – and will build on the area’s existing successful independent traders, introducing new opportunities for retail, leisure and business spaces.

The neighbourhood – named one of seven ‘game-changing’ regeneration projects as part of the Council’s 10-year growth plan – is a major step forward in the plan to establish a new city centre residential offer to rival other major cities. It also supports Government ambitions to improve residential housing density in city centres – as set out in its Northern Growth Strategy 2026.

A detailed planning application for phase one has been approved, which will deliver:

– 33 townhouses on Chain Street, centred around a new community green. Featuring a mix of two and three-bedroom homes designed to suit a range of household sizes and needs, each with designated parking space.

– A further 64 two and three-bedroom townhouses on the northern Oastler site, arranged around a series of courtyards and green spaces, each with designated parking space.

– Supporting infrastructure including safer roads, landscaped public spaces and active travel routes that promote walking and cycling to help create a sustainable community with health and wellbeing at its heart.

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.

Outline plans have also been approved for the wider regeneration, which will include more than 300 apartments on the southern half of the Oastler site, alongside approximately 400 apartments at Kirkgate. Demolition of the former Oastler Shopping Centre (which closed permanently in June 2025 with many of the traders relocating to the new Darley Street Market) is expected to begin later this year.

The 1970s built Kirkgate Shopping Centre will also be taken down to make way for future phases of the transformative regeneration, and it will close later this year ahead of demolition beginning towards the end of 2026.

City Village will also create high-quality public space including three new landscaped, green spaces which will complement recently completed improvements as part of the award-winning multi-million-pound Bradford City Centre pedestrianisation – building on Bradford’s growing reputation as a safer, greener and better-connected city centre.

A detailed planning application for phase two of City Village will be submitted later this year.

Simon Dew, director of development management, explained:

Councillor 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. When these plans become reality and the homes and public spaces are built, they will create a thriving, people-centric neighbourhood that brings communities together. 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.

“City Village shows the direction of the city centre for the next ten years – quality housing, more public spaces and balancing retail against other uses that will bring more people into the city centre. We are leading the way on this, and it will set the gold standard for the future of urban living.”

Over the last 18 months, ECF has worked with Bradford Council to develop the plans, following extensive public consultation and engagement with hundreds of local people.

Bradford City Village has already secured major inward investment, including £13.1 million in-principle funding from the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, a key partner helping to deliver the neighbourhood, alongside £30 million of Government funding via Homes England.

City Village is one of fifteen places identified in the Strategic Place Partnership between the West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA) and Homes England which aims to unlock ambitious, complex residential regeneration and boost the delivery of thousands more homes.

Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire said:

“This planning approval for Bradford City Village is an important step in the right direction, as work continues to transform the heart of the city centre.

“With new high-quality homes, vibrant green spaces, and better transport links, we’re committed to delivering for our communities and businesses in Bradford for decades to come.

“As we move onto the next stage of this flagship project, we remain dedicated to making Bradford City Village a reality, and creating a stronger, brighter West Yorkshire.”

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

For further information visit www.bradfordcityvillage.com