District targets ambitious economic growth with bids for £100m investment

Bradford Council has prepared a set of bids totalling over £100m to help level up the district.

It says the four bids have been designed to optimise significant economic growth, jobs and prosperity and would deliver a significant return for every pound invested by the Government.

In Bradford South, Odsal could become the new national home for rugby league with a state-of-the art culture and entertainment stadium.

The existing stadium would be carefully rebuilt to modern standards with a new roof to create a high capacity sports, entertainment and training complex.

It is anticipated that a new top-tier stadium could deliver over one £1bn worth of wider benefits to the Bradford District over ten years and pave the way for the Bulls to return to the Super League once again.

It could also support the district to capitalise on its City of Culture status by providing a world class stadium to stage high volume arts and entertainment events.

In Bradford East, a modern health and wellbeing centre providing a wide range of medical services, training and function rooms and sports facilities could be developed at the Karmand Centre in Barkerend.

The rundown Greenwood Centre in Wood Lane could be transformed into a new facility offering a range of health services, along with day care for older people and those with mental health problems.

Rehabilitation and weight management programmes would be offered and a 24-hour triage room would be created for health emergencies. Welfare, debt, housing and money management advice would be provided and high quality spaces created for youth and community groups.

New purpose-built sports facilities could be developed at the Parkside Centre in Bowling Park using a match-funded bid to create a modern cricket hall, gymnasium, multipurpose rooms, flexible offices, a meeting room and community café.

Working with education partners, Bradford Council also plans to give education and training a boost to drive local high skilled, highly paid local jobs.

Keighley College and Bradford University Advanced Manufacturing hub would be reconfigured and expanded to include a new high tech facility supporting research and development in emerging technologies such as advanced robotics.

The council has also put in a bid so it can partner with private developers to clear and upgrade six Keighley brownfield sites around local Business Development Zones in Royd Ings and Dalton Lane to provide 344,000 sq ft of prime business space with the potential to host over local 700 jobs.

And another bid could transform the Keighley Worth Valley Railway into an enhanced rail transport hub offering workers a fast and efficient commute into the area.

Bingley Pool could be transformed into an attractive, modern leisure facility with six lane swimming pool, gym, studio and café.

An arts trail would provide an interactive link to Mytle Park and Bingley town centre could receive a facelift with new landscaping, seating and lighting, and a modern cover for the market square.

Councillor Susan Hinchcliffe, leader of Bradford Council, said: “Bradford District represents an incredible opportunity for the Government to deliver its Levelling Up agenda.

“We have worked hard to develop a range of bold bids designed to unleash our economic potential, deliver jobs and prosperity and address deprivation and health inequalities.

“We are the UK’s number on Levelling Up opportunity and if supported, these bids will provide game-changing benefits to the district and our residents.”