Bradford City Centre Regeneration

[Da Bomb]

Originally Posted by Bradford Lad

Actually, many developers and investors are now seeing the potential of the city. Bradford's GDP stands at over £6bn and Sheffields at £7bn. A successful Bradford will benefit the wider region. Bradford is beginning to market itself better, since to 2003, house prices in Bradford City Centre have risen by 118% to 142,000 and continue to rise

Way to go Bradford Lad!! About time someone on this board backed Bradford!

[di Livio]

I'm liking the promo material for Bradford's regeneration project. You know, the one with the storks holding sacks of cash in their beaks.



Room at the Top on Saturday, eh?
"I am working-class. And proud of it!"

Bradford Architecture Week 16th-25th June, 2006
26 May 2006

Bradford Architecture Week is part of the national public celebration of contemporary architecture, from 16-25 June.

The events will compliment the emerging and altering landscape of Bradford city centre as the £2 billion regeneration scheme gathers pace. Marc Cole, Director of Regeneration for Bradford Centre Regeneration, said: “Bradford has a wealth of iconic buildings and breathtaking architecture to enjoy. The regeneration programme is complimenting this by attracting a variety of influential architects and developers to the city. Bradford Architecture Week is a fantastic forum to assist the regeneration programme and make architecture more accessible. It will provide an opportunity for education and discussion to both those with a professional interest and the general public, and I encourage everybody to get involved.”

Established in 1997, Architecture Week is the annual national public celebration of contemporary architecture. It is an Arts Council England and Royal Institute of British Architects initiative in association with the Architecture Centre Network. The nationwide programme features over 500 events, debates, visits to new buildings and architects’ practices and exhibitions across the England.

Programme of Events:

Friday 16th June
Z-Axis by The Light Surgeons - Multimedia Exhibition
7pm, St George's Hall
Tickets free via box office

Friday 16th June - Sunday 25th June
I Shot Norman Foster Exhibition
12-5pm Daily, Listers Mill
Free entry

Friday 16th June - Sunday 25th June
Huddersfield School of Architecture Exhibition
10-5.30pm Daily, Salts Mill
Free entry

Saturday 17th June
The Good, The Bad & The Ugly - Launch and Walking Tour
12pm, Waterstone's, The Wool Exchange
Free entry

Saturday 17th June
Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow
Film
2pm, Pictureville Cinema, NMPFT
Normal box office prices

Sunday 18th June
My Architect
Film
6pm, Pictureville Cinema, NMPFT
Normal box office prices

Monday 19th June
Draughtman's Contract
Film
8.15pm, Pictureville Cinema, NMPFT
Normal box office prices

Wednesday 21st June
4 x 4 Making Places Special: A Built Environment Debate
6.30pm for 7pm, The Priestley
Tickets free via box office

Thursday 22nd June
Archtectural Symposium - Talk
9.45am-3.45pm, Salts Mill
Tickets £10 (Concessions £5) via URBED

Friday 23rd June
The Fountainhead
Film
1pm & 5.45pm, Pictureville Cinema, NMPFT
Normal box office prices

Friday 23rd June
Art and Architecture in Temples of India - Dance Event
6pm, Cartwright Hall
Free entry

Saturday 24th June
Room at the Top
Film
6pm, Pictureville Cinema, NMPFT
Normal box office prices

Saturday 24th June
Walking Tour of the City Centre and Little Germany
12pm, Meet outside City Hall
Free

Sunday 25th June
Batman Begins
Film
6.10pm, IMAX, NMPFT
Normal box office prices

For more information on any of the above contact Andy Kelham at URBED on 0161 200 5500.

[di Livio]

Textile Voices
The book Textile Voices: A Century Of Mill Life tells the story of Bradford's textile industry, from its heyday in the early 1900s, to its eventual decline in the later part of the century. The book features over 100 photographs and is published by the Bradford Heritage Recording Unit at £12.95.

[Bradford Lad]

Nice to see so many cities experiencing regeneration programmes

[Dan B]

Hmmm, thought I'd put up a few pictures of the Good, the Bad and the Ugly of the new designs for Bradford City Centre (of course my own opinion but I think you'll find I'm right...).

The Good:

The Gatehaus, Little Germany, Leeds Road



Perhaps the best design I've seen that's actually under construction.

www.thegatehaus.co.uk


The Channel (Opposite Forster Square Retail Park)






Definitely one of the key developments for Bradford, the designs here are very interesting and actually surpass some of the designs in Leeds which have been getting a little formulaic. It should also provide a decent station approach into Forster Square Station, similar to the one found when entering Leeds Central Station.

www.bradfordchannel.com


Goitside Regeneration (Incorporating Thorton Road, West Gate and the area in between)





I like these designs a lot, and the area of Thorton road is in dire need of some attention. The last design is particularly striking with an impressive roof feature and would do well to replace something like Highpoint, though I have seen other designs for this, less good I might add.

www.acanthus.co.uk


Broadway Shopping Centre



Although did prefer this design:



Not sure what this roof is about though with the beams and overhang, it makes it look like a shed, it'd be fine without.


Not too bad, but I'd change that green colour to a more light blue turquoise.

Having put this under good, there is however some other computer generated designs which look pretty awful and give the place the look of 60's buildings, sometimes even of the same view as the sketches:


This is pretty horrible, grimly functional, reminds you of what was there before.


I certainly hope this is not the result and that it turns out more similar to the sketch of this. Look at the buildings to the background to the left and right. Just look at them! 60's carbon copies written all over.

www.benoy.com

www.connectingthecity.co.uk


The Bad:


Odeon Site


Awful, a cold and sterile building.


As generic as can be, let's make Bradford look just like every other city! Plus what would be the point of the screen if they've already put one up in Centenary Square?


And as for this one...Well it's the better of the 3, mainly because it retains the towers. But this has a rather silly use of colours, particularly the purple at the front, and what's with all the modernist windows? I thought we tried to escape that era in our history. I know it has a different and distinctive style (but as Mike Priestley put it would ''suffer from Millennium Dome-itis'' and I'd have to agree with him), the original Odeon was distinctive, impressive and imposing all rolled into one. It also would have made for a fantastic concert venue of 3,000 seats, I've been told that it has perfect acoustics and that St. Georges doesn't come close (also how are they going to develop St. Georges? there's no where to go). Even if the structure was unstable, they could've at least retained the frontage and built a new design feature like a glass roof that slopes down like an atrium and comes down at the back, integrating both new and old in the design.

The council doesn't pay much attention to the views of local people, it professes to consult them and then promptly ignores them. It also screams ''Propaganda Machine''.

http://www.kingsdr.demon.co.uk/cinemas/borg.htm


The Ugly

Asquith Residential Tower, Manchester Road




Blurgghh, awful, so bad it hurts to look at it. And look, it comes ready boarded up, so when the bulldozers come in 30 years later, the builders'll be all set for demolition. How could anyone call this stylish? It's horrific and as close to the 60's as we've come, instead using glass a bit more this time. Seriously how could the same architects who came up with the Gatehaus come up with this? Either change the colour of the glass and get rid of that wood or don't build it at all.

http://asquithproperties.com/manchester_road.asp

And thus brings an end to my extensive list. Hope we can have some discussions on the designs.

Oh yes and one last thing, I forgot to put:

The Sad

The Odeon or New Victoria, Princes Way



RIP New Victoria.

[di Livio]

Went over to Bradford yesterday for the first time since last year and the whoile of Broadway has vanished! The whole city centre seems to have improved tenfold overnight.

I wish the same could happen to the Leeds Shopping Plaza.

[JOliver]

Originally Posted by Daniel Brassington

Hmmm, thought I'd put up a few pictures of the Good, the Bad and the Ugly of the new designs for Bradford City Centre (of course my own opinion but I think you'll find I'm right...).

Great stuff Daniel, thanks a lot for this thread! Was dying to see the Broadway design, you simly can't find it anywhere!

Mostly agree with your classification, apart from the Odeon proposals, I do admire the colourful variant with preserved towers, it's probably the best thing to happen to Bradford in a long time. Sure when it's built (fingers crossed they select this variant, I know that most of the residents support it, but will they be heard?) it will add a lot of charecter to the city.

One thing which is not mentioned often, Broadway will only cost half of proposed Harewood/Eastgate quarter (350m vs 700m). If this will be reflected in size and quality, Bradford will join Leeds in terms of quality retail space, overnight. Well untill H/E is built, which is a long way yet.

[Leeds No.1]

I hope the city centre does change quickly! We could end up with 2 metropolises (metropoli'?) as part of one big megalopolis! With Bradford and Leeds as major hubs, it really could be a strong European competitor. Maybe they could put the siteless Kite Tower in Bradford- spark regeneration there!

[Bradford Lad]

Originally Posted by Leeds No.1

I hope the city centre does change quickly! We could end up with 2 metropolises (metropoli'?) as part of one big megalopolis! With Bradford and Leeds as major hubs, it really could be a strong European competitor. Maybe they could put the siteless Kite Tower in Bradford- spark regeneration there!

Yes, Bradford is improving and this will only benefit the wider region. Leeds is the key economic driver for the region but if Sheffield and Bradford could become bigger players than they currently are, the Yorkshire region would become even more competitve than it presently is.

I would love to see West Yorkshire thriving with two metropolises which create knock on effects for smaller towns and cities within the region. Greater cooperation between local authorities will also drive the economic prospects of the region forward.

[Dan B]

Originally Posted by JOliver

Mostly agree with your classification, apart from the Odeon proposals, I do admire the colourful variant with preserved towers, it's probably the best thing to happen to Bradford in a long time. Sure when it's built (fingers crossed they select this variant, I know that most of the residents support it, but will they be heard?) it will add a lot of charecter to the city.

One thing which is not mentioned often, Broadway will only cost half of proposed Harewood/Eastgate quarter (350m vs 700m). If this will be reflected in size and quality, Bradford will join Leeds in terms of quality retail space, overnight. Well untill H/E is built, which is a long way yet.

The colour use is perhaps less extreme than I thought, the blocks seem to have the traditional sandstone colour on the sides facing outwards while keeping the colour within the plaza space. However that front glass part uses bright yellow, purple and pink, these would not be as bad if they were simply lights illuminating the inside areas, but as solid colours along the top, I can't help feeling that looks tacky. My own personal preference would be to keep the building as it is of course doing it up a lot while at it, but at the front where there is currently some horrible concrete on the first floor, replace with a glass entrance, making it more open. The roof also looks a bit concrete-esque so here a glass roof to cover this might be in order, bringing it to slope down around the back to cover or replace the buildings to the back which aren't so nice. At the back here a new public square could be created with say an underground car park underneath. the next address along houses a car dealership currently, and this site (despite being in business I don't think too many people would be sad to see it go) could be replaced with something like the Casa Mela, also now being closer to the college, fulfilling one of it's functions as an introduction to the college. I doubt this'd get listened to, but I think it would be preferable, saving the odeon for use as a decent sized music venue, which is one thing I think the city really needs. St. Georges is too small, apparently has bad acoustics and rarely attracts good bands (Motorhead being the only one I can see in the forseeable future) the rest of the time hosting such acts as Jim Davidson, enough said.

If ofcourse the council go ahead with there plans, I would prefer to see the Casa Mela, hopefully also in the plaza it creates, it could be used for music events like Millenium Square in Leeds. As for people supporting this one the most, this probably is true, however given the option for refurbishment it would be a different story. The majority who posted on some BBC boards here centainly thought so:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/bradford/restor...n_cinema.shtml

http://www.bbc.co.uk/bradford/conten..._feature.shtml

As for the second part of your post, it is good to see that Bradford's shopping centre is getting the rough equivalent investment as Leeds. However this is only for the first stage of Broadway, I have seen outlined the second part, which would replace the post office, it makes it almost twice as big. This is a good sign, I just hope there are enough shops and not too many apartments and that the designs turn out more similar to the sketches and not the CG renders.



This picture shows the extent of the Broadway development, stretching it seems, all the way to Forster Square Station. Channel area is also shown.

Speaking of the channel, I've just heard some dissapointing news about it's development. It seems there are currently debates about it's height and density. It appears they've already had to cut down the height to 13 storeys rather than the 20 storeys shown in the renders (on my above post). I don't know why density and height are such an issue here. This is the perfect spot, just off from the city centre and not really intruding on anyone's view, furthermore actually giving them something to look at. Now Bradford seems to have cut its aspirations short (again).

Read further here:

http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.u...350m_plans.php

Originally Posted by di Livio

Went over to Bradford yesterday for the first time since last year and the whoile of Broadway has vanished! The whole city centre seems to have improved tenfold overnight.

Hmm not exactly overnight, as that space has been empty with not much work going on for a while now, although there's been delays it seems work might start in the second half of 2006. Unfortunately I think I'll have finished Uni by the time it's done, but I might stick around after, I'm hopeful for the cities future and having Leeds nearby is always an advantage.

[di Livio]

Originally Posted by Daniel Brassington

Hmm not exactly overnight, as that space has been empty with not much work going on for a while now, although there's been delays it seems work might start in the second half of 2006. Unfortunately I think I'll have finished Uni by the time it's done, but I might stick around after, I'm hopeful for the cities future and having Leeds nearby is always an advantage.

It's important not to underestimate the depressing effect of the old Broadway development.

[Val Verde]

Bradford does look an awful lot better with the old Broadway demolished. However isn't there a very small part of it still standing where HMV is (is it to be kept as a reminder of the awfulness of the previous redevelopment in the 1960s?). Also is the new Broadway to be all open air or will parts be enclosed is there ever any plans to demolish or at the very least reclad the abysmal Kirkgate (nee Arndale) centre and why are the majority of shops in Bradford City Centre closed on Sundays. Surely that would give an open goal to out of town developments and also what other major retailers are planning on opening at Broadway other than Debenhams?

An interesting point about Bradford is why there is an empty shop displaying signs for Dillons Booksellers even though that chain ceased to exist in 1999. Has this been empty for 7 years!?

[JOliver]

Originally Posted by Daniel Brassington

...I have seen outlined the second part, which would replace the post office, it makes it almost twice as big. This is a good sign, I just hope there are enough shops and not too many apartments and that the designs turn out more similar to the sketches and not the CG renders..

Even more of good news Daniel! Did not know about the post office - it is huge and every time I pass it I think that it is asking for demolition. Not that it's ugly, a typical RM Depot, just the place it occupies right in the city centre.

Combined with the Chanel it would make a great entrance to the city.

I guess to wish something to be done to the retail park there is a bit too much.

[Dan B]

Originally Posted by di Livio

It's important not to underestimate the depressing effect of the old Broadway development.

Certainly, the old Broadway was a horror: dark forboding structures, tacky Reebok, Nike and Addidas symbols up in some of the windows, just general bad architecture. It makes me wonder why they didn't go ahead and get rid of Arndale house as well, the eyesore that it is, which strangely enough looks as though it's bigger from further away; a blot on the landscape if you will.

I just found a few more little pictures of the Channel and Broadway schemes from Robinson Architects who designed the Channel and are doing a few bits and bobs to Broadway. However not all the pictures and renders I see agree with one another, I guess we'll have to wait and see.


A sketch of the Channel development


A view of what the new Forster Square might look like, a lot like Millenium Square actually.

I just found another article about Broadway from the T&A about incorporating asian influences into the design. I'm all for the inclusion of asian shops and the like, but I don't see why we can't have neutral architecture. The article also revealed construction would start in the second half of 2007! I'm sorry but I don't see why they have to delay it for that long.

http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.u...s_broadway.php

[JOliver]

Originally Posted by Daniel Brassington

I just found another article about Broadway from the T&A about incorporating asian influences into the design. I'm all for the inclusion of asian shops and the like, but I don't see why we can't have neutral architecture.

I think what they are trying to propose is to have a mix of east/west stores, which is not a bad idea, just isn't it a bit early for such discussion, especially as construction is not going to start for another year (sad really!). Also, I would assume anyone who pays the rent can get a space.

What I can't understand - and hope that won't hurt anyone's feeleings - is the proposal to include prayer facilities. In a shopping mall?

[Dan B]

Originally Posted by Val Verde

Bradford does look an awful lot better with the old Broadway demolished. However isn't there a very small part of it still standing where HMV is (is it to be kept as a reminder of the awfulness of the previous redevelopment in the 1960s?). Also is the new Broadway to be all open air or will parts be enclosed is there ever any plans to demolish or at the very least reclad the abysmal Kirkgate (nee Arndale) centre and why are the majority of shops in Bradford City Centre closed on Sundays. Surely that would give an open goal to out of town developments and also what other major retailers are planning on opening at Broadway other than Debenhams?

An interesting point about Bradford is why there is an empty shop displaying signs for Dillons Booksellers even though that chain ceased to exist in 1999. Has this been empty for 7 years!?

Yeah, I'm not sure why that's been left, especially with Arndale House. The new Broadway seems to be a sort of half open air half enclosed development with glass coverings part way into the shopping centre covering the ground floor, on the second floor there appears to be walkways between some of the buildings. I think some buildings exceed 2 storeys, but I'm not really sure.
As for other major retailers, I believe BHS and H Samuel are also opening stores. I assume BHS taking the other department store in the project.

You can read more here: http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.u...work_start.php

I'm sure I read somewhere that the Kirkgate Centre would be reclad, but have seen no designs. It's certainly preferable to demolision, seen as it's just gone through a refurbishment inside. I hope they get it right when they do and do it soon. As for the shops being closed on sunday, I'm really not sure, old religious ties? It certainly makes it hard to shop. Another thing should be the opening of shops longer than 5pm in the summer months. The shop you metioned being empty for so long, probably was just that. There are apparently quite a lot of unused buildings in the centre. This is beginning to see a reversal, but because Bradford still suffers from an image problem (Bradford Riots etc.) it is in a bit of a vicious circle; empty buildings, no investment, empty buildings get worse, investment declines. I'm hoping this is coming to an end though now, with new interest and pride in Bradford.

[Dan B]

Originally Posted by JOliver

I think what they are trying to propose is to have a mix of east/west stores, which is not a bad idea, just isn't it a bit early for such discussion, especially as construction is not going to start for another year (sad really!). Also, I would assume anyone who pays the rent can get a space.

What I can't understand - and hope that won't hurt anyone's feeleings - is the proposal to include prayer facilities. In a shopping mall?

Yeah, Prayer facilities? I don't think religion should have such an influence in public buildings. This should be reserved for Mosques and Churches. The university does have such prayer facilities, but then half the students are Muslim, so that would kind of make sense.

[Neilynoo]

I was driving through Bradford at the weekend and noticed a few tower cranes up at the Leeds Road end of town. It was good to see. I worked in Bradford all through the '80s and before Leeds road was widened, would daily visit the Junction Pub at the bottom of Vicar Lane or eat at the Italian restaurant upstairs just by BHS. Bradford seemed quite vibrant then but lost its way in the '90s somehow. Glad the trend is starting to reverse and effort being spent to spruce the place up again.

[Dan B]

Originally Posted by Neilynoo

I was driving through Bradford at the weekend and noticed a few tower cranes up at the Leeds Road end of town. It was good to see. I worked in Bradford all through the '80s and before Leeds road was widened, would daily visit the Junction Pub at the bottom of Vicar Lane or eat at the Italian restaurant upstairs just by BHS. Bradford seemed quite vibrant then but lost its way in the '90s somehow. Glad the trend is starting to reverse and effort being spent to spruce the place up again.

Indeed and here what they're building and restoring:


The restoration of Eastbrook Hall and it's conversion into apartments.


The Gatehaus, which will offer 142 apartments and cafe's and bars on the ground floor I think also.

It's nice to see restoration work and designs sympathetic to the built environment (use of sandstone on Gatehaus) while offering up a modern twist (Fin-shaped glass tower).

It's interesting that Bradford took a plunge in the 90's, I always thought things got a bit better after the 80's, but I suppose not in this case. I think with the riots of 2001 it hit a low, I spose a sort of boom and bust, that being the bust. I think it can only get better from now on, provided everything goes ahead. As for such things as italian restaurants, I believe there's a sort of underground one on Market street but can't figure out where exactly. This seems interesting as it gives the city a sort of European flavour, which the built environment offers quite well, it just needs to be utilised. I'm sure the Centenary Square development helped this no end.
Talking of Centenary Square, does any one know what sort of design will come of the building to the back of it where a red crane currently stands? I've heard it'll be apartments (again), I just hope it has an inspired design in such a central location.

[Da Bomb]

Middle East to sink millions into city

By Will Kilner

Middle Eastern investors are being lined up to pour hundreds of millions of pounds into Bradford's regeneration, it was revealed today.

Bosses of the Abu Dhabi firm bankrolling the proposed £90 million student village in Listerhills say their scheme is expected to open the floodgates to other overseas investment funds.

A delegation of businessmen representing four Middle Eastern investment funds will visit the city next month to be briefed by Bradford Centre Regeneration (BCR) on its key future projects.

Mohammed Ikhlaq, chief executive of Projenco Al Khaleej, the Abu Dhabi oil and gas consultants funding the Listerhills scheme, was in Bradford this week to see the five-hectare site for the first time.
continued...

The proposed mixed-use development, which has already been granted outline planning permission, would include student accommodation, shops, restaurants, work units and a hotel.

Mr Ikhlaq said: "If this goes smoothly, the guys who are coming over as part of the delegation will be able to see an example of the exciting opportunities that exist in Bradford.

"This is a great chance for a lot more Middle Eastern money to come into this area.

"But this (Listerhills) is a flagship project which we have to get right."

Mr Ikhlaq said delays caused by planning or land acquisition issues could prove off-putting to other overseas investors who have their eyes on Bradford.

He said: "Traditionally, we have seen a lot of investment from the Middle East in London and the south, but this is the first time we have really diverted our attention to somewhere like Bradford. It's crucial to get it right."

Mr Ikhlaq, who was educated at Cardiff University and now lives in Abu Dhabi, is on the board of three other investment companies. He said he was first attracted to Bradford by the regeneration model presented to him.

He said: "The model of Liverpool and Leeds was offered and we were then told that Bradford was in a very opportune and advantageous position for investment, whereas it was too late for Leeds or Liverpool because it's already happened there."

Mr Ikhlaq said Projenco Al Khaleej's investment in the Listerhills site could rise to more than £100 million if full planning permission is granted for everything proposed. And he said his company was already aware of three more major regeneration projects in the city.

Mohammed Ishtiaq, director of International Energy Projects, the European investment wing of Projenco Al Khaleej, said he was working closely with BCR and Bradford Council to bring about some of the proposed regeneration projects.

He said: "We will invest in the key projects which the city and the Council wants to see."

Marc Cole, BCR's director of regeneration, said: "We are delighted that an investor from as far as Abu Dhabi has seen the potential in Bradford. Mr Ikhlaq's substantial investment in the Listerhills Urban Village will bring student accommodation, hotel, offices and leisure space and will significantly revitalise the area.

"We recognise the importance of attracting investment from national and international sources. We continue to work with new investors to develop a desirable city in which to live, work and learn."

Dave West, regeneration projects manager for Bradford Council, said he also expected the Listerhills project would act as a catalyst to the regeneration of the surrounding area.

He said: "If the Listerhills site becomes a bridging link to help the university and the college link in with the city centre, it's doing a fantastic job."

And Clive Wilson, director of estates for the University of Bradford, said: "The university is trying to remodel itself and if the area around can do likewise the whole learning village becomes more vibrant."