Bradford | Westfield Bradford Shopping Centre, offices and apartments | Appr

[Mezzo]

From the Australian newspaper article:

It appeared yesterday, however, too few retailers were confident in the present climate to take out leases in the planned mall, a mandatory Westfield ``development goal'' to ensure the project went ahead on schedule. It is understood Westfield could find only about half of the expected 100 tenants required.

I think the whole point is being missed here.
Westfield were unable to secure enough leases on the development WAY before economy fell through the floor, so the recession can't be blamed for this fiasco as all.
Demolition work started on the old Forster Square/Broadway area in October 2005 - that's nearly four years ago, and still we're waiting.
Remember, the whole thing was supposed to be completed by last year so they've had plenty of time to sign up tenants.

The decent thing to do now would be to put up their hands, admit they've got it wrong and go back to the drawing board.
I know they've already spent millions of preparatory groundwork - but who knows, maybe Westfield would be glad to get the place off their hands?
If they couldn't get enough businesses on board to make it viable by now, what chance do they have in the next few years?
Zero, that's what.

And the worse thing about all this is that everyone in power seems happy to let this stalemate carry on.
Why are the council not taking Westfield to task?
(Maybe because they screwed up in the first place by not including delivery penalties in the contract).
Why are the T&A not demanding answers?
(I think we all know the answer to that one).
What part do BCR and Yorkshire Forward have to play in all of this?
(You can bet they'd be clamouring for aclaim if it had all been a resounding success)
Why are our MPs not demanding action?

Grrrrr. I could carry on and on, but what's the point?
Looking at Val Verde's pics of the old Broadway coming down has made me feel quite nostalgic for those horrid sixties buildings, and I never thought I'd be saying that.

[*-City Of Bradford-*]

Originally Posted by Val Verde

Alternatively has anyone notable such as David Hockney or anyone else notable from Bradford (Linda Barker doesn't count) ever said anything on the status of his or her home city centre?

Kimberly Walsh came back to Bradford a few years ago (back in 2001) and even came into our school, where she used to go herself. She seemed keen on Bradford at the time.

She was also a supporter of Bradford city at the time aswell.

[dunlin]

Originally Posted by *-City Of Bradford-*

Kimberly Walsh came back to Bradford a few years ago (back in 2001) and even came into our school, where she used to go herself. She seemed keen on Bradford at the time.

She was also a supporter of Bradford city at the time aswell.

Bradford then: Delius, Priestley, Hockney

Bradford now - Kimblerey, Gareth and that lass who got kicked off the X Factor early

[Val Verde]

Well there is certainly no chance (not that it was ever going to happen) of Broadway opening in 2010 if the truth from this article from the Sydney Morning Herald is to be believed (which I took from the Westfield Broadmarsh, Nottingham thread in the East Midlands forum) that all Westfield schemes globally have been deferred until at least 2010 and as they lost AUS $2 billion which is equivilent to GBR £1 billion for the last financial year. http://business.smh.com.au/business/...0226-8ib8.html

Westfield defers projects as slump kicks inCarolyn Cummins
February 26, 2009
Westfield, the world's biggest shopping centre owner by value, will defer all new developments this year as it battles against the weakening US, British and New Zealand economies.

This will not include the $860 million redevelopment of Sydney's Pitt Street Mall, which is currently under construction.

The market reaction was positive, with Westfield shares ending the day up 50 cents, or 5.1%, at $10.25.


As it posted a loss of $2.2 billion for the year to December 31, 2008, after a series of non-cash items, including a $3.3 billion write-down in asset values, the group confirmed the likely distribution for the 2009 year will be between 94 cents and 97 cents.

For the 2008 year the payment was 106.5 cents, as forecast previously.

Joint managing director Steven Lowy said that at year end, $1.6 billion had been spent on the projects under construction with the balance of $3.0 billion to be incurred over the next four years.

The Group is not planning to commence any large project during the remainder of 2009.

"Our development activity is concentrated in Sydney and Stratford, the gateway to the London 2012 Olympics. These two projects, located in some of the best retail locations in the world, are of the highest quality and are expected to create significant long term value,'' Mr Lowy said.

SMH

Unsurprising news and a further nail on the disaster and charade that is the Bradford Broadway scheme which really imo be scaled down for something which is achievable (such as ideas raised on here to create new shopping streets piecemeal to correspond with demand, a park and a new Forster Square) and not unachievable resulting in a huge embarrasing void for Bradford which this current proposal has clearly resulted in (and what appeared to be of rather dubious quality). I wonder how long it will be until the Telegraph and Argus and Bradford Council will report on this news or if it will be swept under the carpet with nonsense such as this scheme will one day put Bradford on the map when it is clear that it never will commence.

Also if the economy was to improve surely Westfield would focus on their schemes in Nottingham and Stratford, London as opposed to Bradford i'd have thought considering the relatively close proximity to their previous schemes in Derby and White City respectively and I guess the greater potential with Nottingham as an established regional shopping centre and Stratford which will be next door to the 2012 Olympics.

[Suburban Knight]

Invest in Bradford recently put out a glossy press release, I think with the Yorkshire Post, which said Westfield would definitely be opening in 2110. I'm not sure whether it was a typing error or an admission of the truth!

[Dan B]

It's official:

Originally Posted by The Telegraph and Argus

Broadway shopping centre put on hold

9:10am Saturday 28th February 2009

comment Comments (33) Have your say »
By Will Kilner »


Construction work on Bradford’s £320 million shopping centre will definitely not start this year, its owner has revealed.

Westfield, the world’s biggest shopping centre operator, blamed the current economic climate for its decision to delay the Broadway scheme.

It made its decision as it reported an Australian $2.2 billion annual loss in its preliminary results for 2008.

The news was greeted with widespread disappointment by politicians and business leaders across the Bradford district.

Although rumours have been rife about delays to the Broadway scheme, this is the first time Westfield has gone on the record to officially admit that the scheme has been put on hold.

A Westfield spokesman said: “Given the serious dislocations going on at present in global financial markets we will not be commencing construction on any major projects, including Bradford, during 2009.

“However we continue to work on predevelopment, pre-letting and project planning so that we are in a position to recommence when the environment stabilises.”

In its annual results statement, Westfield revealed that its shopping centre net operating income grew by 2.8 per cent in 2008, with growth in Australia and New Zealand of 4.7 per cent set against a 1.8 per cent decline in the UK.

Bradford Council chief executive, Tony Reeves, said the news was “disappointing and frustrating” but not unexpected in the economic climate.

He said: “Retail developments across the world are being affected by the recession. Timescales for the construction of other developments regionally and nationally are being similarly revised.

“Westfield is continuing to progress pre-construction work for the development, including securing the required number of pre-lets. It is important that the pre-construction work continues so that the development is ready to start as soon as economic conditions improve.

“The Council will continue to work with and support Westfield in the expectation that construction work will begin on the Broadway site next year if the economic downturn eases.”

In total, Westfield has suspended 14 new developments this year, but will proceed with its huge development in Stratford which it wants ready for the London 2012 Olympics.

Councillor Adrian Naylor, executive member for regeneration for the Tory-led Council, said: “I am disappointed on behalf of the people of the district.

“It’s frustrating because everyone wants this to happen, not just us but the shops that are going to be in the centre and Westfield itself.

“The economy is in such a state that, if this had been a quarter where we had seen growth, this project would have been in the construction phase by now.

“What we must do now is concentrate on what we as a Council can deliver and that’s the Park at the Heart.”

Coun Naylor said it was not in the Council’s power to resolve the difficulties facing commercial propositions such as the Westfield scheme.

Councillor Ian Greenwood, leader of the Council’s Labour group, said: “Obviously I am disappointed that the project will move back a bit.

“I can’t say I am particularly surprised in the current market. I still have belief that Westfield is a good company and I hope it can deliver the city centre regeneration.”

When asked if the Broadway site could be used for anything else, Coun Greenwood said: “For my money, the site is the absolute key site that needs major retail on it and Westfield are the people who own it and are looking to develop it. I can’t see any other use for the site.”

Councillor David Ward, deputy leader of the Council’s Liberal Democrat group, said: “My concern on this is that the plan A was always to build the Westfield development in Bradford around about 2006.

“Plan B is for Westfield to build it whenever they are ready and that could be any time.

“There’s no other option on the table and I always thought that was a weakness.

“They have relied too heavily on that development being done quickly with no thought as to what happens if it doesn’t take place.

“Westfield is quite happy for that site to stay in that state for five or six years. We have two councillors on the board of Bradford Centre Regeneration – the leader of the Conservative group and the leader of the Labour group – who need to start representing the people of the district and saying this is just not good enough.

“I have never heard either of them make any public statement about the slowness of the development taking pace.”

Coun Ward said the Council should have looked to boost other businesses in the city centre and to redevelop other parts of the retail offer in case the Westfield scheme did not get off the ground.

l Continued on facing page l From previous page “Instead of that, they put all their eggs in a very expensive basket,” added Coun Ward.

Mike Cartwright, of Bradford Chamber of Commerce, said the news was frustrating, disappointing but understandable.

He said: “It’s very sad but not entirely unexpected.

“The problems mounting in the economy on a local, regional and international basis, have always made this decision harder for Westfield on whether or not to proceed.

“We sympathise with them. Obviously, being a business representative organisation, we understand the difficulties that have been facing them in the second half of last year.

“This news confirms the slowdown in the local regeneration.”

Mr Cartwright said Bradford residents and Westfield viewed the scheme from different ends of the telescope.

He said: “They are a developer that has got to be clinical and hard-nosed in their business decisions. The point they have made repeatedly is that there’s no point opening a half-empty shopping centre. That would do Bradford no good at all.”

Mary Frame, of Bradford Chamber of Trade, said: “From what they are saying, it’s anyone’s guess as to when they will start construction.

“It’s a pity that the Council didn’t have any penalty clauses in place for a start date. I think they have been very slack in that direction, but it’s too late now.

“The traders are despondent about Westfield because that’s going to be the catalyst. This makes things very difficult for the city centre.

“People are going in their droves to Halifax and Leeds and once we have lost that custom, it’s very difficult to win it back.”

e-mail: will.kilner @telegraphandargus.co.uk
Are there alternatives?

Phillip Wong, of Redmayne-Bentley stockbrokers, answers some key questions.

Q Is there any way Bradford Council could help to kickstart the scheme financially or otherwise?

A The possibility of Bradford Council helping to kickstart the scheme seems unlikely. With so many local councils having to make redundancies and struggling for money, a contribution to a private shopping centre development would presumably not be high on their priorities.

Q When do you feel the climate will be right to start work on the Broadway scheme?

A The problems in the economy all stem from the banking crisis. When we first see clear signs of lending and confidence being instilled back into the sector and in the economy I think that this would be a good base to reconsider starting the project again. With so much Government money being pumped into the system already, this has not had an instant impact.

The economy is expected to kick start at the back end of this year and into early 2010, but truth is that we could see the recession drag well into 2010. Consumer confidence needs to rebuild as they are at all time lows and thus, building a new shopping complex at this time does not seem rational.

Q Westfield owns the site and is understood to have spent more than £80 million preparing it for redevelopment. Is it reasonable to suggest that any other shopping centre company would be willing to purchase the development and get things moving more quickly?

A A rival shopping centre company could in theory take the development off Westfield’s hands having paid a fee. Again, the question has to be asked, who would take the project on? This is a global credit freeze and companies across the globe are struggling to raise cash for new business investment.

Companies are hoarding cash as opposed to spending it on new projects. Again, the problems all stem from the banking crisis.

http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.u...e_put_on_hold/




This is an absolutely catastrophically embarrassing mess. Good on Councillor Ward for telling it how it is and having at least some connection with the Bradford populace, everyone else seems to be covering their arses and doing their best to be sycophantic apologists for Westfield. What the hell were they thinking having a contract without clauses? Hell, what were they thinking in creating such an unrealistic project in the first place? There is now nothing that can be done and the blame lies solely with the Bradford Council and Westfield. Blaming this on the economic downturn and banking crisis is absolute crap. They had at best managed to get 50% of the prelets, and this was in times of relative growth. Had the crisis never happened, this would still be going at a snails pace. The project was dying any way but euthanasia won.





http://www.flickr.com/photos/danbrassington/

[Mezzo]

Originally Posted by Dan B

This is an absolutely catastrophically embarrassing mess. Good on Councillor Ward for telling it how it is and having at least some connection with the Bradford populace, everyone else seems to be covering their arses and doing their best to be sycophantic apologists for Westfield. What the hell were they thinking having a contract without clauses? Hell, what were they thinking in creating such an unrealistic project in the first place? There is now nothing that can be done and the blame lies solely with the Bradford Council and Westfield. Blaming this on the economic downturn and banking crisis is absolute crap. They had at best managed to get 50% of the prelets, and this was in times of relative growth. Had the crisis never happened, this would still be going at a snails pace. The project was dying any way but euthanasia won.

Couldn't agree more.
This isn't really news anyway, it's just Westfield confirming what we've all known for ages. But at least it's all out in the open now, and we're not going to have any more ridiculous T&A 'Construction Will Start Soon' articles for a while.
I asked in another post why the hell nobody seems to be accountable for this farce?
Heads really should be rolling for it. But I guess after the RBS fiasco this week, it seems you can get away with anything in the UK these days.
Failure doesn't seem to be recognised... certainly not challenged.

Interestingly, in the comments bit on the T&A website alot of people are enthusiastically demanding that the site be developed into a city centre stadium for City and the Bulls.
Apart from the fact that's it's not large enough, could anything be worse?

I think the best thing we can hope for is that Westfield sell the site back to the council (is there any LBA money left to pay for it?) and a more realistic plan is devised.
We've already given them plenty of suggestions of how to do it on here... let's hope somebody is reading.

[Leeds No.1]

I don't expect this to recommence until after Eastgate is completed- if that ever is built- and until Trinity is a well and truly established destination in Central Leeds. So really it puts this project in serious doubt- if Leeds is only going to get stronger, and previously Bradford struggled to compete with Leeds' retail offer anyway, will retailers really want to invest in such a massive scheme?

I think when the economy gets back on track, a new masterplan will be needed for the site. It should have some retail element, but I don't think the currently proposed amount will still be possible.

[Dan B]

Originally Posted by Mezzo

Couldn't agree more.
This isn't really news anyway, it's just Westfield confirming what we've all known for ages. But at least it's all out in the open now, and we're not going to have any more ridiculous T&A 'Construction Will Start Soon' articles for a while.
I asked in another post why the hell nobody seems to be accountable for this farce?
Heads really should be rolling for it. But I guess after the RBS fiasco this week, it seems you can get away with anything in the UK these days.
Failure doesn't seem to be recognised... certainly not challenged.

Interestingly, in the comments bit on the T&A website alot of people are enthusiastically demanding that the site be developed into a city centre stadium for City and the Bulls.
Apart from the fact that's it's not large enough, could anything be worse?

I think the best thing we can hope for is that Westfield sell the site back to the council (is there any LBA money left to pay for it?) and a more realistic plan is devised.
We've already given them plenty of suggestions of how to do it on here... let's hope somebody is reading.

Yeah, I didn't think much of that idea either, dunno why everybody was enthusing about it so much. You could one Stadium max onto that site, not much room for anything else, and I suppose you could utilize the dug out underground car park, but I wouldn't want a honking massive stadium right there. I suppose you could potentially site something like that on the Channel Urban Village site just up the road and have enough room for other things, but I really doubt they can afford to move from Valley Parade which is already quite a large stadium, just doesn't have the best of surroundings and the design is pretty horrible in it's tinshedishness. Don't much get the idea to move to Odsal either, that ground is tiny in comparison. I know they've got an expensive rent, but that's quite a step down, unless a new stadium was to be built there. Been to Valley Parade once before when some friends of mine had a Peace Studies vs. War Studies charity/friendly match. Had quite a good atmosphere and was at least appropriately large. Tend to support Stoke City though, so don't really follow the Bantams or their activities.

Yeah, I think we've made some pretty good suggestions on here already for a revised plan. Smaller street based development, roughly half the size of the site, park and rail/tram link, seems the general consensus. If only this was the plan from the start. We'd probably have it there now, some additional shops and two department stores and a decent new public space as the new Forster Square. It really wouldn't have had these delays. I'd just like to know of some examples of developments like this, so we could know what is possible to achieve, I don't know if this is how retailers realistically operate, or what their demands generally are for a scheme. I suppose you could have about two major shopping streets with addtional little enclaves and bits and bobs, with a third row of shops fronting onto the public space, possibly with a mix of bars, cafe's or restaurants to give it some activity, and then such activity could carry on into Little Germany, though admittedly the buildings round there aren't all that well adapted for so called 'active street fronts'.

Originally Posted by Leeds No.1

I don't expect this to recommence until after Eastgate is completed- if that ever is built- and until Trinity is a well and truly established destination in Central Leeds. So really it puts this project in serious doubt- if Leeds is only going to get stronger, and previously Bradford struggled to compete with Leeds' retail offer anyway, will retailers really want to invest in such a massive scheme?

I think when the economy gets back on track, a new masterplan will be needed for the site. It should have some retail element, but I don't think the currently proposed amount will still be possible.

Have to disagree with you in regards to Eastgate given there's actually no visible preparation work on site for that, or at least not to the extent of Broadway, though it may have a better situation with prelets than Broadway, but that's been put on hold as well, so don't see the logic there. So has Trinity had absolutely no difficulties in regards to letting? Demolition is almost complete there, will construction carry on right on after? And in this economic climate? They should start a new masterplan right now, it's not like there's gonna be much else to work on. The plan b that should have been there in the first place, with attaching clauses.

[Leeds No.1]

Work has already begun at Trinity- you can see new structures if you look through the gaps in the hoardings.

Broadway may be further ahead than Eastgate, but Eastgate is in a much stronger city. Retailers are going to make more money by opening a shop in Eastgate than Broadway.

[*-City Of Bradford-*]

Originally Posted by Leeds No.1

Work has already begun at Trinity- you can see new structures if you look through the gaps in the hoardings.

Broadway may be further ahead than Eastgate, but Eastgate is in a much stronger city. Retailers are going to make more money by opening a shop in Eastgate than Broadway.

But Bradford need it more. Leeds has enough shops as it is.

[Skychaser 2005]

Originally Posted by *-City Of Bradford-*

But Bradford need it more. Leeds has enough shops as it is.

Not if your competing with Manchester, Birmingham etc for the number one regional shopping centre.....and that is what Leeds aim is to do.

As the regional capital, Leeds has no choice but to keep up with its competitors. It also has the wealth and the economy to do this even with the "credit crunch" which is why Trnity is going ahead whilst many other major shopping developments are on hold.

I agree, Bradford desperately needs more shops to entice people back into the centre, and I still can't get my head around the fact that 15 miles down the road in Wakefield, a city which is much smaller in comparison with Bradford can see such major developments taking place with a new Debenhams etc, and Bradford is just not capable of making it happen.

[riclam]

an opportunity to refresh the scheme and a dose of common sense would see this ihas a great opportunity to clear the mistakes of the 60s, put the streets abck as they were and include a cross city rail link. I have seen a proopsed drawing from 1911 and a elegant stone viaduct!
knwoing bradofrd incompetent council this will never happen anyway.

[Dan B]

Originally Posted by riclam

an opportunity to refresh the scheme and a dose of common sense would see this ihas a great opportunity to clear the mistakes of the 60s, put the streets abck as they were and include a cross city rail link. I have seen a proopsed drawing from 1911 and a elegant stone viaduct!
knwoing bradofrd incompetent council this will never happen anyway.

Might you be able to show us that actually? I think the whole linking of the stations thing is always a popular topic on here, it'd be nice to see what they actually did plan. Why on earth they didn't link it in the late 50's when the site was cleared, and then instead drove the stations further apart is anyone's guess. Guess they were happy with Bradford being even more of a terminus town.

[tomd89]

I suppose Bradford was the destination back then, and there was no need for connecting rail lines.

[*-City Of Bradford-*]

A regeneration chief has poured cold water on suggestions that another use should be found for the dormant Broadway site following further delays to Bradford’s long-awaited shopping development. The city centre site, owned by Westfield, is the proposed location for a £320 million shopping development but, on Saturday, the Telegraph & Argus revealed construction work would definitely not start this year.

As soon as news of the delay broke, T&A readers started putting forward their ideas for alternative uses of the site. One that quickly gained momentum on the T&A website forum was that the site should be used as a new sports stadium to be shared by Bradford Bulls and Bradford City.

Many posters suggested the multi-million pound Sporting Village, proposed for Odsal, should instead be built on Broadway where it would enjoy the benefits of good rail and bus links. Meanwhile, Bradford Rail Users’ Group (BRUG) said the site ought to be used for a cross-city rail link connecting Bradford Interchange and Forster Square rail stations, bringing the advantages of through trains to the city.

Phillip Ferriby, chairman of BRUG, said: “Now would be the ideal opportunity to go for the cross-city rail link because there’s nothing happening on the Broadway site at the moment.

“The rail link would be a great thing for Bradford. I know Westfield would want lots of money for the land and it would be a dear project, but worthwhile doing it.”

Councillor Adrian Naylor, Bradford Council’s executive member for regeneration, said Westfield had already spent more than £80 million on the site.

He suggested Westfield would probably want to recoup the money if the site was sold, and there would then be the added cost of reversing the underground preparatory works already carried out. Coun Naylor said: “We are talking about a delay to the shopping centre. We don’t know how long that will be but we are asking Westfield to clarify that.

“If we moved the Odsal Sporting Village (OSV) to that site, where would we put the shopping centre the city needs? “The Broadway site is nowhere near as big as the Odsal site, so I suspect it wouldn’t be big enough and wouldn’t have enough parking. It would be far more expensive to build the OSV there because we don’t own it.”

Asked about a rail link, Coun Naylor said: “The problem is that that would be in the transport budget and it’s going to be years away from getting funding approval. You would have a shopping centre before you could have a rail link.”

[Leeds No.1]

The site should never be used for sports. They don't require expensive, limited city centre land.

[GraphicGMC]

I've always thought that linking the Interchange and Forster square would be a good idea, but thinking about it, it would be a massive project and I mean massive. I would hazard a guess at it costing nothing less than billions despite the short distance. It would be the largest, most disruptive and expensive infastructure project in the north. You've got The Victoria Hotel, The Law Courts, some fancy victorian buildings, that disgusting 60's low-rise tower, more fancy victorian buildings, then The Midland Hotel and finally B-Direct to either go through or under. That wouldn't happen in a million years and would be comparable to Boston's big dig.

I think we can comfortably put that idea to rest.

I think in the long term, Broadway is actually quite important to the development of the city centre. It may be just a mall, but anything that can provide an alternative to Kirkgate is great. The Kirkgate belongs in an Armenian township, not here. Anyway, it will be a wait but Broadway should be worth it when it's actually built.

[Mezzo]

Originally Posted by GraphicGMC

I've always thought that linking the Interchange and Forster square would be a good idea, but thinking about it, it would be a massive project and I mean massive. I would hazard a guess at it costing nothing less than billions despite the short distance. It would be the largest, most disruptive and expensive infastructure project in the north. You've got The Victoria Hotel, The Law Courts, some fancy victorian buildings, that disgusting 60's low-rise tower, more fancy victorian buildings, then The Midland Hotel and finally B-Direct to either go through or under. That wouldn't happen in a million years and would be comparable to Boston's big dig.

I think we can comfortably put that idea to rest.

The only buildings currently blocking the route are the Law Courts and the Inland Revenue (B-Direct) building in front of Forster Square station.
Both the Victoria and Midland hotels stand at the side of any alignment (in fact, both were there when the lines came much further into the city centre). There aren't any other Victorian buildings in the way.

I know it would be a huge job, but I'd say the cost would be millions not billions. Plans were drawn up in the 1930s to link the two with a viaduct, (definately the easiest option) but the second world war stopped it happening.
Sure, there would be disruption... but nothing on the scale of Boston!

Originally Posted by GraphicGMC

I think in the long term, Broadway is actually quite important to the development of the city centre. It may be just a mall, but anything that can provide an alternative to Kirkgate is great. The Kirkgate belongs in an Armenian township, not here. Anyway, it will be a wait but Broadway should be worth it when it's actually built.

Broadway absolutely needs doing... it's just the scale of it that's the problem. If they were just sticking to a retail offer, that's fine.
But why does it have to be bloody 'mixed use' with yet another hotel, offices and apartments in there? None of which there seems to be any demand for.
If they revised the plans, and just went for a scaled back retail offering, I think it would have a much better chance of getting off the ground.
Just because we've got a huge empty site, it doesn't mean every single square metre of it has to be built on.

[GraphicGMC]

Originally Posted by Mezzo

The only buildings currently blocking the route are the Law Courts and the Inland Revenue (B-Direct) building in front of Forster Square station.
Both the Victoria and Midland hotels stand at the side of any alignment (in fact, both were there when the lines came much further into the city centre). There aren't any other Victorian buildings in the way.

Looking at google maps, the route between the two does cut through more than just the courts and B-Direct. The Midland and Victoria Hotels, while not directly in the path of alignment, they would be only a few metres out. I can't imagine Hotel patrons appreciating a dirty diesel through train trundling past the window, even an electric train would produce too much vibration.

It tell you what though, a super sexy stone viaduct with some modern engineering right through the city centre, that would be incredible. Immediately it makes me think of brooding noir detective films set in Chicago and New York. It would give the city a real feeling of importance, a little grandour ect.

To go way off topic for a moment, I always thought that the metal sculptures outside Forster square down by the arches look like the dismantled remains of some 1930's steam punk airship docking infastructure, with the Forster square staircase being the access point to said airship.