Bradford | City Park | Complete

[*-City Of Bradford-*]

To get this thread going here is some latest news:

£10m boost for park plan

Yorkshire Forward is planning to plough at least £10 million into Bradford’s Park at the Heart project.

Since Bradford’s £24.5m bid for lottery funding was turned down, project bosses have been investigating other funding options for the mirror pool city park.

Whereas the bid to the Big Lottery Fund focused purely on the Park at the Heart scheme, regeneration chiefs have decided that other funding options could be exploited more successfully by linking the park project with an equally-ambitious plan to relocate Bradford Magistrates’ Court.

Bradford Centre Regeneration said it was hoping to sign a ‘Heads of Terms’ legal agreement with Her Majesty’s Court Service (HMCS) in the next six months to move forward negotiations over the future of the Magistrates’ Court.

HMCS has committed a “sizeable amount” of money to the cost of relocating the magistrates’ court from its current position, next to the old Tyrls police station, to a new site by Bradford Crown Court in Exchange Square.

And demolition of the existing magistrates’ court, along with the adjoining former police station, would pave the way for part of the proposed 'Business Forest' to be built next to the Park at the Heart.

Stephen Talboys, director of regeneration for Bradford Centre Regeneration, said Bradford could look forward to having a Park at the Heart by 2012 and a new magistrates’ court by 2013 if discussions went according to plan.

He said: “Whereas previously the park was going to be funded by the lottery, we are now looking at the bigger picture, combining the plan to build the park with the idea of moving the court.

“So the court and park are now being considered as one from an economic and funding point of view.”

Mr Talboys said the detailed design of the park was being drawn up at a cost of £1.5 million, funded by Bradford Council, Yorkshire Forward and English Partnerships.

He said the completed park plan would then be put out to tender next year to allow companies to bid for the contract to carry out the construction work.

Mr Talboys said Bradford Council and HMCS had committed to sizeable financial contributions and added that Yorkshire Forward’s proposed investment was a major boost for the scheme.

He said: “For Yorkshire Forward to make an investment of £10 million or above in any project, we have to go through a process of getting approval from CPRG (Central Projects Review Group) and the Treasury.

“To get that approval, the project requires a very detailed business case. The economic work we have done so far means we are confident of making that case. “If we move the court and build the park, then it’s the business space we can put around there that will provide the economic output that justifies it.

“The total bill is huge – £24m for the park and £35m to move the court. With a broad brush, that’s about £60m for the combined project.

“We are talking through a ‘Heads of Terms’ agreement with HMCS and they have identified a sizeable contribution to the cost. They see it as one of their projects.”

When the magistrates’ court is moved to Exchange Court, it would form part of the city’s new Justice Quarter, with lawyers and solicitors expected to take up office space in a new mixed-use development near the courts.

Yorkshire Forward and HMCS would not divulge the exact amount they plan to invest in the scheme.

[*-City Of Bradford-*]

Park at the Heart!

Bradford’s natural drainage point will be transformed into a landmark water feature and a showcase for the entire city. Known as ‘The Bowl’ this area of the centre will play host to an innovative mirror pool. This tranquil body of water can be drained quickly to create a large space for public events such as ice-skating, outdoor theatre and art installations.

Centenary Square is rapidly becoming a cultural focal point within the city centre with a selection of cafes, restaurants and bars framing City Hall. Key to the public square is the BBC Big Screen, which is one of seven in major cities across the UK. It has already brought together Bradford’s communities by showing a selection of sporting, charity and cultural events.

Complementing the mirror pool in the Bowl will be a dynamic Business Forest office park, the Interchange transport hub and an enlarged and enhanced Exchange Square Concert Hall (St George’s Hall).

Major Projects within The Bowl:


* The mirror pool – The signature feature of the Alsop Masterplan will create a unique, flexible space for community events and concerts which can be used throughout the year. The pool will form the centrepiece and include infrastructure to hold major public events beside the Grade-I listed City Hall, along with children’s play areas, quiet spaces for reflection, and bars, cafes and restaurants. A lottery bid for £24.5m funding was launched in 2007 with the scheme making the final shortlist from over 300 schemes, however the bid was unsuccessful. Despite this setback, city leaders are committed to making the scheme a reality for the people of Bradford and are currently looking at alternative funding methods.

* Lightwave – The Centenary Square Video Screen has already had a large impact on the use and quality of life in Centenary Square. The screen televises high profile events and news from around the world. The screen also acts as a local news portal and after the success of the first opera event is now holding several key events uniting the city.

* The Business Forest office park – This key three-stage development creates Bradford’s central business district alongside the potential new legal quarter, complementing developments taking place in other areas of Bradford. This mixed-use development will also bring the highest quality city living to the heart of Bradford.

* Interchange Station – The current railway and bus station will be transformed into a twenty-first century public transport hub, also providing up to 200,000 sq ft of high quality office space and a new multi-storey car park.



Bowl Documents:

http://www.bradfordnewcity.com/doc_p...D=15&styleid=1

Bowl 3D View:

http://www.bradfordnewcity.com/uploads/BOWL_1A.jpg
http://www.bradfordnewcity.com/uploads/BOWL_2%20.jpg

Bowl Facts:

http://www.bradfordnewcity.com/uploa...act%20Card.pdf

[Suburban Knight]

Isn't there a Bradford thread for this type of thing?

[Leeds No.1]

Yes but it was discussed that seperate projects should have seperate threads as the current Bradford thread was far too large with way too many projects in it.

'City region' issues like this could do with their own subforum within Leeds'.

As for the project itself, it's the lake proposal that has been adapted to the 'pool' isnt it? Not only could it not get planning permission etc, but I'm worried it may not contribute to the economic regeneration of Bradford. It'll create a nice public space, as Centenary Square has done, but as soon as you go into the main part of Bradford it's just the same as it was years ago.

Student accomodation could be the answer to some parts of Bradford; in a similar way to how students have brought money to Headingley, they could to parts of Bradford. Bradford also could build up it's tourism I think.

[Val Verde]

Could seperate threads for individual projects within Bradford or anywhere else in the Leeds Metro area outside of Leeds itself perhaps be preceded with something like BRADFORD | (eg: BRADFORD | Westfield Broadway Retail Development), HARROGATE |, YORK |, HUDDERSFIELD |, WAKEFIELD | or HALIFAX | similar to what is done in the East Midlands Forum where threads are preceded by NOTTINGHAM |, LEICESTER | or DERBY |?

As for The Bowl it is an interesting idea as decent public spaces in city centres is always a good thing although it would surely and very obviously need to be well maintained and kept in tip top condition. It certainly has been extremley long in gestation though if they don't get the money they need is there any fall back option perhaps to have a scaled down scheme which still provides benefits for Bradford especially with the economy the way it is would make the granting of funding for such schemes difficult i'd have thought. Still with the proposal for a new park to be completed in 2012 and with a relocated Magistrates Court opening in 2013 does that mean Bradford will be without a Magistrates Court for a period of time? Are there any renders showing how Interchange station will look as that really is an eyesore which would really need some work done to it.

Still couldn't they provide some major tax incentive which this £60 million could arguby be better spent on to encourage new businesses, government departments into Bradford which could provide for some genuine regeneration for the city centre whilst also developing improved transport throughout the borough such as railway stations at Manningham, Low Moor and Laisterdyke as well as improved regional rail services (such as direct services to Hull and Liverpool which I imagine should be easily achievable through expansion and merging existing services together in addition to more services to Leeds and Manchester) in addition to the planned NXEC hourly Bradford Forster Square - Leeds - London Kings Cross Intercity railway service as well as a genuine tidying up of its network of city centre dual carriageways such as that outside the National Media Museum and the Hilton Hotel which should be reduced to something resembling a city street and not something which looks awful as it reflects badly on the appearance of Bradford City Centre.

Also how far would £60 million go towards possibly opening a viaduct linking the short gap of railway between Interchange and Forster Square stations which in my view would be a good idea so that trains run through Bradford and hence it would give further journey opportunities which would surely make Bradford a more popular destination as well as improve a strategic part of the West Yorkshire transport network.

[*-City Of Bradford-*]

The Diana Memorial Fountain in Hyde Park, London, and Sheffield’s Peace Gardens are two attractions that are providing inspiration for Bradford’s Park at the Heart project.

The team behind the city centre park plans has been visiting public projects in other cities looking at similar elements and speaking to the people behind developing and maintaining them.

Other projects visited include the More London area surrounding the Greater London Assembly building in London and public realm works outside the Millennium Dome in Greenwich.

A report to Bradford Council’s regeneration and economy improvement committee, which meets on Tuesday, gives an update on the £24 million park scheme.

Shelagh O’Neill, project officer for the scheme, said in the report: “A number of key lessons learned have been incorporated into the Park at the Heart design and will result in cost savings in the design, build or maintenance of the scheme or will enhance the scheme in other ways.”

It also states that Council chief executive Tony Reeves has been “engaged in high level negotiations with a range of potential funding partners”.

In addition to the existing partnership of the Council, Yorkshire Forward and Bradford Centre Regeneration, English Partnerships have now committed themselves to the project.

The detailed design stage is now “well under way” and a full design review was undertaken earlier this year.

In August the Telegraph & Argus revealed that Yorkshire Forward was planning to plough at least £10m into the project. The regional development agency’s potential investment would have to be approved by the Government’s Treasury department because of its size.

Since Bradford’s £24.5m bid for lottery funding was turned down, project bosses have been investigating other funding options for the mirror pool city park.

Whereas the bid to the Big Lottery Fund focused purely on the Park at the Heart scheme, regeneration chiefs have decided that other funding options could be exploited more successfully by linking the park project with a plan to relocate Bradford Magistrates’ Court.

[Rob]

I've amended the thread title to bring it into line with others and to slim it down a bit, hope you don't mind *-City Of Bradford-*.

I'd be interested to see this project go ahead as it seems to be the key centre point of the whole Bradford regeneration masterplan. However, there seems to be no sign of funding on the horizon since loosing the lottery bid. Hopefully that can be changed over the next couple of years.

[Dan B]

Originally Posted by Rob

I've amended the thread title to bring it into line with others and to slim it down a bit, hope you don't mind *-City Of Bradford-*.

I'd be interested to see this project go ahead as it seems to be the key centre point of the whole Bradford regeneration masterplan. However, there seems to be no sign of funding on the horizon since loosing the lottery bid. Hopefully that can be changed over the next couple of years.

Cheers for that Rob, everything looks much neater and clearer. I guess we're a bit anal when it comes to this *-City of Bradford-*, but it just helps in the long run.


I don't mind this project, and there is about £10m from Yorkshire Forward plowed into this, though if they really want to cut costs, they should scale down the amount of land they're redeveloping.

I'm guessing by the above article about finding inspiration from the Diana Memorial and The Sheffield Peace Garden that the project is being altered or scaled down. If you look at the map of the Overall View of the project on my last post, also seen here:

http://www.planninginbradford.com/WA...df&pageCount=1

...you can see that there are alterations made to Centenary Square itself, with more curved grass patches and a significant amount of repaving. This seems entirely unnecessary and costly, given the square was revamped/created only a decade ago, and looks fine as it is, with Stone Paving as opposed to Porphyry Setts as seen in some of the CGI shots in my previous post, which doesn't seem quite as good. So they can save a few bob here. The other two grass patches which are removed in this design could also be retained if the pool's diametre and positioning were altered slightly.

The necessity of redeveloping Norfolk Gardens is also questionable. It perhaps looks somewhat better in the renders for it, but the water feature seems to cut the space in two, though it does have some crossing points, the observation remains. I don't know whether the space where the roads 'Norfolk Gardens & Channing Way' current are wouldn't be used for temporary vehicle access, but it would be an ideal space to put that stream water feature without breaking up the grass lawns. The dry stone wall would also seem to close in the space from the rest of the city. This could be to separate the public park space from all the cars, though it seems block off views of the city and vis-versa views of the park. The little pavilion information centre and retail buildings seem an alright idea though.

The rest I guess could continue as planned, though with the loss of Lottery Funding, what they're able to create may be more limited. I've never really been fond of the Magistrates Courts like some people seem to be, it's too short and take up an unnecessary amount of space, and has a planned replacement at Exchange Square, expected to coincide with this project. The police station isn't much better and already has a replacement building in Nelson Street (actually uglier than the former).

Originally Posted by LeedsLad

I think this would be a real asset to Bradford. Is it where the big screen currently is (I've not been to Bradford much)?
Where does this fit in relation to the Westfield Shopping Centre - would be great if the two were close?

Yeah this is where the big screen is, though mainly involves the adjacent site of the Police Station and Magistrates Courts.

It's not far away from the Broadway Site, at it's nearest about one street/two buildings away:



The city park on the left and the Broadway site on the right.

This does raise another issue though, that of the fact that particularly major 6 lane, 4 lane roads surround half of the site, not the best environment for a park. Obviously the result of poor town planning in the 60's and 70's, but it is an issue still not dealt with. One argument put forward was that the park should be relocated to the Broadway site, what with having some fairly good buildings surrounding it, and not so major roads. Given the Broadway Shopping Centre seems only about half let, and is going at a snails pace, half the space being devoted to parkland would seem a more lateral approach. The work already done on site though, makes this an unlikely option, what with department stores already let at all corners of the site, and plans firmly in place. Ideally though, the Broadway Site could do with a lot more space devoted to parkland or squares, not having the Park at the Heart as the sole major square, with Forster Square now relegated to almost nothing.


P.S. Princes Way could do with some kind of cross between a bridge and a tunnel though, with a dip in the road and an elevated and substantial piece of land going over the top for pedestrians, though considering tall vehicles it's debatable whether you could fit it all under. A full blown tunnel would be preferable in the long run, though costly and difficult, though that way you could possibly link in an underground carpark beneath the City Park, increasing accessibility to visitors and the Bradford populace alike. In a perfect world. As it is, it's bloody annoying.

[LeedsLad]

I think this would be a real asset to Bradford. Is it where the big screen currently is (I've not been to Bradford much)?
Where does this fit in relation to the Westfield Shopping Centre - would be great if the two were close?

[Dan B]

Will respond to messages and discuss a bit more in next post, but here's some more images and a video of the project (some of them large, thus why I'm dividing it):


Park At The Heart Video:

Link to section of website:

http://www.bradfordnewcity.com/default.asp?Page=50

Link to video choice option:

http://www.bradfordnewcity.com/vid_pop3.htm

Direct link to hi-res video via Windows Media Player:

http://www.bradfordnewcity.com/image...es/park-hi.wmv

(Can be downloaded via flashgot I think)


Original CGI's:







(I know City of Bradford already put this one up, but it shows a bit more of the wall mentioned below)



http://www.parkattheheart.com/

http://www.gillespies.co.uk/services...rk/default.htm


Map Overview Proposal:





http://www.planninginbradford.com/WA...df&pageCount=1

http://www.planninginbradford.com/WA...r=07/05090/FUL


Some details of the Norfolk Garden Wall (also seen on CGI posted above) and Earlier Conceptions:



http://www.planninginbradford.com/WA...df&pageCount=1

http://www.planninginbradford.com/WA...r=07/05090/FUL










Really like this idea, don't think it made it to the proposal design though:





http://www.sturgeonnorth.com/


The Planning Applications:

Centenary Square Planning Application History Section (including below):

http://www.planning4bradford.com/Pub...=002DM5DHBU000

Park At The Heart:

http://www.planning4bradford.com/Pub...OPERTY&module=

http://www.planninginbradford.com/WA...r=07/05090/FUL

Demolition of Police Station & Magistrates Courts:

http://www.planning4bradford.com/Pub...OPERTY&module=

http://www.planninginbradford.com/WA...r=07/05091/CAC


Both are approved.


I think that's about everything.

[emma72]

Apologies for my *Ignorance* I didn't realize this forum and the T&A was only for members of Bradford Council, or those with an Architectural background. I bow down in deference to your superior knowledge.

Please however appreciate my conviction (enough to put my real name!) and passion for the future of Bradford City Centre.

Although the CGIs of the Park at Heart are indeed impressive I have a real issue with the Mirror Pool - the main one being its maintenance. In fact if I can refer you to the Park at Heart site at http://www.parkattheheart.com/consultation.htm 79% of questionnaire respondants wanted the park to be clean and well maintained - It was the highest response the council published.

Personally (although I understand my opinion is worthless to the likes of Bradford Born and Bred and City of Bradford and seemingly the council itself) I believe that the glass buildings would be better placed as shopping facilities (Debenhams, Next BHS perhaps) This would then allow the Odeon to be redeveloped as a Bradford Academy (like the keighley academy) or Corn Exchange (given that its just down the road from the university it would surely capture the enterprises core target market). The remaining mills in the town could then be utilised as combined office living/ space. (if they were spruced up). This would leave the Wesfield area open for redevelopment - central train station, catherdral park, a nod to site of the original Ford that Bradford got its name from (sorry Westfield - we've waited too long).

Yes I know this may all seem pie in the sky (and I'm sure I'll be told in no uncertain terms how flawed my proposal is!) but from where I'm standing I haven't spent £10m on an artists impression and I know its never going to happen!!!!

[dunlin]

Nice one, Emma!

[*-City Of Bradford-*]

Originally Posted by emma72

Apologies for my *Ignorance* I didn't realize this forum and the T&A was only for members of Bradford Council, or those with an Architectural background. I bow down in deference to your superior knowledge.

Please however appreciate my conviction (enough to put my real name!) and passion for the future of Bradford City Centre.

Although the CGIs of the Park at Heart are indeed impressive I have a real issue with the Mirror Pool - the main one being its maintenance. In fact if I can refer you to the Park at Heart site at http://www.parkattheheart.com/consultation.htm 79% of questionnaire respondants wanted the park to be clean and well maintained - It was the highest response the council published.

Personally (although I understand my opinion is worthless to the likes of Bradford Born and Bred and City of Bradford and seemingly the council itself) I believe that the glass buildings would be better placed as shopping facilities (Debenhams, Next BHS perhaps) This would then allow the Odeon to be redeveloped as a Bradford Academy (like the keighley academy) or Corn Exchange (given that its just down the road from the university it would surely capture the enterprises core target market). The remaining mills in the town could then be utilised as combined office living/ space. (if they were spruced up). This would leave the Wesfield area open for redevelopment - central train station, catherdral park, a nod to site of the original Ford that Bradford got its name from (sorry Westfield - we've waited too long).

Yes I know this may all seem pie in the sky (and I'm sure I'll be told in no uncertain terms how flawed my proposal is!) but from where I'm standing I haven't spent £10m on an artists impression and I know its never going to happen!!!!

To start of with I have no architechtural knowlage or am I a member of the council. Infact, I'm still in my first year of GCSEs. ANd your comment about the Telegraph and Argos Forum, I find people on their racist and generally very immature (slighlty ironic for me saying that lol).
Why would you think your opinion would be worthless to me?

And from my point of view, your idea of the Westfield area is interested, but at the same time impossible, I can't see it happening. But the Park At the Heart certainly will happen and when it does it will have massive improvements to the city center. But I'm still abit concerned about whats going to happen to the roads. I know they're going to be paved over (i think), but how will Bradfords inner city road system work then? At the current state it is a shambles unfortunately.

[Dan B]

Found this in the local council propaganda rag, Community Pride, not seen it reported anywhere else, so I'll post this here:

Park At The Heart Plans

We will soon be consulting Bradford city centre traders, taxi drivers and residents about proposed closures to Channing Way and Norfolk Gardens.

The Closures, which would make way for the first phase of our Park at the Heart scheme, were approved in principle by the Council's Executive in December.

We carried out extensive consultations on the city park and mirror pool scheme in 2007 but further consultation on the transport proposals is required. We are seeking funding for the schem

[10123]

The complete wrong kind of proposals for bradford, yes it looks nice, but first we need shops and buisnesses then concentrate on the park space. Hardly anyone is going to use it because there arnt any decent shops or restaraunts, so no one is going to go shopping then drop by the park area. Also those curvy paths are a very poor idea indeed, as if the architect expect people to follow those paths, everyone will cut straight through as no one has the time to go all over the shop, there will be long areas of mud paths evrywhere, looks nice on paper but should bradford really be focusing on green space first? No, not if there isnt a suffiecent infastructure to support these ideas.

But i guess they should build it as it will be the only thing new in Bradford for a long time, but i just feel it is the wrong kind of proposal

[Mezzo]

Originally Posted by 10123

The complete wrong kind of proposals for bradford, yes it looks nice, but first we need shops and buisnesses then concentrate on the park space. Hardly anyone is going to use it because there arnt any decent shops or restaraunts, so no one is going to go shopping then drop by the park area. Also those curvy paths are a very poor idea indeed, as if the architect expect people to follow those paths, everyone will cut straight through as no one has the time to go all over the shop, there will be long areas of mud paths evrywhere, looks nice on paper but should bradford really be focusing on green space first? No, not if there isnt a suffiecent infastructure to support these ideas.

But i guess they should build it as it will be the only thing new in Bradford for a long time, but i just feel it is the wrong kind of proposal

Absolutely.
If all the other plans had got off the ground by now, all well and good but it hardly seems like a priority at the moment.

Originally Posted by Dan B

Found this in the local council propaganda rag, Community Pride, not seen it reported anywhere else, so I'll post this here:


Quote:
Park At The Heart Plans

We will soon be consulting Bradford city centre traders, taxi drivers and residents about proposed closures to Channing Way and Norfolk Gardens.

The Closures, which would make way for the first phase of our Park at the Heart scheme, were approved in principle by the Council's Executive in December.

We carried out extensive consultations on the city park and mirror pool scheme in 2007 but further consultation on the transport proposals is required. We are seeking funding for the schem

I don't see the point in consulting about all this, when as far as I know there are no firm funding plans in place.
Lottery funding was rejected, so who's going to pay for it?

Also, even though the old central police station is empty and could be bulldozed tomorrow, there's still the problem of the Magistrate's Court.
I think there were plans to relocate it next to the Crown Court building, but again nothing has been set in stone.

Originally Posted by Dan B

Princes Way could do with some kind of cross between a bridge and a tunnel though, with a dip in the road and an elevated and substantial piece of land going over the top for pedestrians, though considering tall vehicles it's debatable whether you could fit it all under. A full blown tunnel would be preferable in the long run, though costly and difficult, though that way you could possibly link in an underground carpark beneath the City Park, increasing accessibility to visitors and the Bradford populace alike. In a perfect world. As it is, it's bloody annoying.

Totally agree.
Broadway would make a far more suitable site for a Central Park (please, can we stop all this 'Park at the Heart' nonsense!) but if it's going to be next to Centenary Square I really think Princes Way needs sorting out.
Some better continuity between the city centre and West End seems crucial. Could Princes Way (or at least a section of it) be put in a tunnel via a Cut & Cover method?
The Bradford Beck runs across it near the Odeon somewhere but am sure that could be dealt with.
I'd actually like to see the beck opened up again wherever possible in the city centre... I really don't know why we've buried it as though it's something to be ashamed of.

[tomd89]

The plan is now to retain the court building for the short term at least, and demolish half of the police station as it contains the cells which are used for the court and various other rooms. The blank wall which will come as a result as this will become a "green wall", effectively a wall with plants stuck on it to cover it up.

The court building's future will be considered as part of a phase 2 for the mirror pool which isn't even being thought about yet. It was originally envisaged for this area to become a "business forest", the economic climate has put this in doubt.

Finally the plans for mirror pool have advanced from those renders and drawings posted above, one of the new features is a media pod with stilts which is connected to a some new buildings via a bridge which lifts up and down.

[Mezzo]

Originally Posted by tomd89

Finally the plans for mirror pool have advanced from those renders and drawings posted above, one of the new features is a media pod with stilts which is connected to a some new buildings via a bridge which lifts up and down.

What the...?
As someone who works in the media, I'd love to know what the hell a 'media pod' is!
This all sounds horribly like a throwback to the outlandish Will Alsop masterplan. Are there any visuals anywhere?

[tomd89]

Originally Posted by Mezzo

What the...?
As someone who works in the media, I'd love to know what the hell a 'media pod' is!
This all sounds horribly like a throwback to the outlandish Will Alsop masterplan. Are there any visuals anywhere?

I have access to a number of drawings on mirror pool so I will be able to get some scans soon, it's another trendy word and is basically a massive TV screen, but containing events facilities such as changing rooms, lighting rooms etc. It looks like a large semi-transparent drum on a tripod and will be lit in various colours. Access to it will be gained from a bridge which lowers from the side of the drum to the new "summerhouse" style buildings

[Suburban Knight]

What the fuck is a 'BUSINESS FOREST' when it's at home?!