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A competition to design an “urban park” in Bradford city centre could be held as part of a push to “green the district”.
And the large, empty plot of land near Forster Square rail station could be a possible location for the new green space.
The Bradford District Economic Recovery Plan has been published and details how Bradford could emerge from the Covid pandemic and the resulting economic downturn.
One section of the plan focuses on creating new green space, particularly in inner city areas, where residents may not have access to gardens or parks.
The plan says the pandemic, which has severely limited people’s ability to travel to outdoor areas other than those on their doorstep, highlighted the need for green space and parks.
As well as a new city centre park, the plan calls for smaller empty areas of the city to be repurposed as public outdoor spaces and the creation of “traffic free neighbourhoods” in some inner city areas.
The plan says: “Covid-19 has accelerated the need to improve community wellbeing by improving public space.
“Developing new, crowd-sourced green spaces, for example a new green park in Bradford’s city centre, will improve wellbeing across the community.
“It will also serve as a symbol at a key gateway in the district and align with local priorities for regenerating the city centre while providing space for culture, creativity and community.”
Although in the early stages, the plan says the former Royal Mail site in Bradford city centre, which links the Broadway Shopping Centre and Forster Square Retail Park, will be considered as a possible location for the park.
After Royal Mail shut its delivery office at the site in 2013, the plot was bought by British Land – owners of Forster Square Retail Park.
The property company proposed a multi-million pound leisure scheme for the site that would include a cinema, gym and restaurants.
After years of no movement on the huge site, British Land admitted in September that the development would not be going ahead, and had no plans for the land.
The recovery plan says the first step in its “Greening the District” agenda is “completing a feasibility study for the creation of a permanent, green urban park in Bradford city centre, including consideration of whether to use the derelict site at Forster Square.”
The next step would be to “launching a design competition for a green urban park”.
Step three is “Engaging on the location and style of parks with citizens, cultural groups and other stakeholders as part of a District-wide consultation about public space”.
And this would be followed by setting up a Land Commission “to examine whether and how more vacant sites can be brought into beneficial use, especially close to the city centre.”
Other measures could include creating “Community Improvement Districts”, mixed-use culture / leisure community centres and setting up Low Traffic Neighbourhoods.
The Royal Mail site has also been earmarked as a possible housing site in Bradford Council’s draft Local Plan. The plan says up to 300 homes could be developed on the site.
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