New illustrations launched reveal first phase of Bradford's game-changing City Village
Plans to turn Bradford's former retail core into a new sustainable neighbourhood, known as City Village, have moved forward with the launch of a final round of public consultation. Detailed proposals for phase one were unveiled on 21 May at Bradford Council's Bradford Showcase at Leeds Dock, held alongside UKREiiF.
City Village will cover the Top of Town and Darley Street areas, including the Oastler, Kirkgate and Chain Street sites. It is set to deliver up to 1,000 energy-efficient homes, including affordable housing, together with independent shops, leisure and business space, and improved public realm with three new green spaces.
New illustrations show phase one comprising 33 two and three-bedroom townhouses around a community green on Chain Street, and 64 further townhouses arranged around courtyards on the northern part of the Oastler site, supported by safer roads, landscaping and walking and cycling routes. Later phases would add more than 300 apartments on the southern Oastler site and about 400 on the Kirkgate site.
Consultation runs until 18 June, ahead of a detailed planning application for phase one and an outline application for the rest of the site in late summer. Demolition on the Oastler site is expected to begin in the autumn, with phase one construction starting in spring 2026.
The council's development partner is ECF, a partnership of Homes England, L&G and Muse. The project has secured £13.2 million in-principle funding from the West Yorkshire Combined Authority and £30 million from the Government through Homes England. Bradford housing provider Incommunities has been chosen as ECF's preferred funding partner for the first phase of townhouses for sale and rent, subject to a legal agreement.
Council leader Susan Hinchcliffe said the scheme marks a shift away from reliance on traditional retail towards quality housing and green space. ECF's Simon Dew, Incommunities chief executive Rachael Dennis and West Yorkshire Mayor Tracy Brabin also backed the plans, with Ms Brabin pointing to proposals for a new through station and a tram link to Leeds.
The wider team includes 5plus Architects, re-form Landscape Architecture, Avison Young, Cushman & Wakefield and Turner & Townsend.
Source: Construction Industry News Magazine, original article (26 May 2025)
