Changing the trajectory of Yorkshire and the North East with ECF

Across Yorkshire and the North East, communities are primed for change. ECF is helping to shape that positive future.

James Dinsley, Development Manager, joined Muse earlier this year and is part of the team bringing forward Bradford City Village – a new neighbourhood in the heart of Bradford.

When I joined Muse and ECF, Bradford City Village was exactly the type of ambitious development that wanted to be a part of.

Earlier this month we submitted a planning application for a piece of significant placemaking and regeneration which will create new sustainable neighbourhoods in the heart of Bradford city centre. We’re excited to see these plans come forward to revitalise the city centre residential offer and drive meaningful economic change.

I come from a town which once had a thriving industrial economy that has struggled in recent decades as investment in these industries fell away. As a boy, my family spent a number of years in South East Asia and I was able to see first-hand how investment and regeneration build positive futures for towns, cities and neighbourhoods.

At ECF we can drive that transformational change in communities across the country. We often tread where others can’t, turning difficult opportunities into viable projects and bringing through positive place-making on a large-scale.

This not only benefits communities through our initial investment, but it can also act as catalyst for future investment helping to change people’s perceptions of these communities for generations to come.

I’m proud to be working with the regional team that will be bringing forward this significant and long-term project. It will not only provide high-quality homes for local people but also support sustainable economic growth with a new critical-mass of city centre residents taking part in the daytime and nighttime economy.

In my opinion, the plans for Bradford City Village could demonstrate the potential for regeneration in towns all across Yorkshire and the North East. Through the strength of the ECF partnership, I’m excited to see how we can help to evolve city centres in the region, by providing stimulus to cities architecturally, economically and sociologically.

Our funding model gives ECF a real leg-up and we can deliver an all-encompassing approach to true regeneration. We will take on challenging sites and complicated projects, with an understanding that the specialisms within the ECF partnership mean we are ready to attack any opportunity.

There are, of course, hurdles that must be overcome to deliver transformative regeneration in Yorkshire and the North East.

The viability gaps can be substantial. However, the major positive is that this is an area where there is a serious appetite from Local Authorities Combined Authorities and Central Government to support placemaking. They are prepared to step in with investment and have the patience, and genuine commitment, to true regeneration. They recognise the ambition and see the long-term economic benefits which can be created by these types of projects.

Through our model at ECF, we have the capability and expertise in navigating those viability gaps and give confidence to our partners.

Yorkshire and the North East are areas with a huge amount of heritage, with towns full to the brim of northern English character and local people that genuinely want to see change.

With its year as UK City of Culture in 2025, Bradford is a city on the up and Bradford City Village is contributing to that bright future.