Regen chiefs spell out £2 billion vision

From the archive, first published Tuesday 12th Feb 2008.

Regeneration chiefs spelled out their £2 billion vision for a better city and told residents: "Bradford means business."

Hundreds of people packed into a stormy public meeting yesterday to grill a panel of civic leaders responsible for the renaissance of the city.

In a presentation to the meeting Maud Marshall, chief executive of Bradford Centre Regeneration (BCR), detailed ambitious multi-million pound projects currently in the pipeline.

She said: "It is too late for Bradford to tinker around the edges. We needed a new vision for the city and we have worked extremely hard to make sure that development in the city is of the highest level.

"The strength of this company sends out real signals that Bradford means business."

Mrs Marshall was part of a panel which included Bradford Council leader Kris Hopkins and chief executive Tony Reeves, Jan Anderson, director of environment for regeneration company Yorkshire Forward, and Amjad Pervez, chairman of Asian Trade Link.

Discussion of the on-going Broadway scheme and controversial proposals to demolish the Odeon cinema to make way for a £55million office centre, sparked anger from those who attended the meeting at Bradford's Midland Hotel. Councillor David Ward, the deputy Lib Dem group leader and a campaigner to save the Odeon, demanded to know why BCR had changed their minds after identifying as a priority a need for a £36 million concert hall.

Mrs Marshall said: "I think it would be very difficult to justify the scale of a concert hall with the number of people who would use it."

Jan Anderson, speaking on behalf of Yorkshire Forward, which owns the Odeon, said: "There is not a private sector buyer who would turn it into a concert hall or a theatre because it is not financially viable. If you can find someone out there who is willing to do that, then I will get the Yorkshire Forward board to sell it to them straight away."

Others criticised Westfield, the developers behind the Broadway development, for delays to the £340 million shopping centre just days after it emerged that major retailer Bhs had pulled out.

However, Chris Howson, city centre priest for the anglican church, praised BCR for its efforts adding: "Don't waste money on consultations or endless PR - listen to the people of Bradford."

Councillor Kris Hopkins agreed, saying the Council needed to win the "hearts and minds" of residents. He said: "I think this is a great city and I think that Bradford can regenerate. If we are going to be successful, we need to stand up and say: we are a great city' and stop beating ourselves up."

Meanwhile, a spokesman for Westfield said rigs had moved onto the site yesterday to check existing foundations which need to be cleared to make way for building on Broadway to start. He said: "The rigs have been brought in as part of the on-going investigation and preparation works."

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