Work to start on Bradford Westfield shopping centre

WORK is finally due to begin next week on the stalled Westfield shopping centre scheme in Bradford.

Australian shopping centre developer and investor Westfield today confirmed it will start site preparation works on Monday at the Broadway development in Bradford city centre.

The company said that preparation works are essential to carry out before it begins construction on the shopping centre and it is working hard to secure further pre-lets to retailers to allow it to start work in full before the end of the year.

The site in the centre of the city has been dubbed the ‘hole in the ground’ and business groups have been desperate to see work begin to develop the boarded up site.
 
The works include preparing the construction compound, installation of essential infrastructure plus site clearance and surveys.
 
Earlier this month, together with Bradford Council, Westfield announced a ‘Meet the Buyer Event’ on Wednesday, December 11 to promote local business opportunities for construction and services related companies on the development project.
 
Duncan Bower, Westfield director of development said: “The site preparation works, along with the upcoming ‘Meet the Buyer’ event and growing retailer commitment are positive steps forward.  Westfield will continue its intensive work to secure the final pre-lets to facilitate a start date before the end of year.”
 
Cllr David Green, leader of Bradford Metropolitan District Council said: “This is positive news and another step in the right direction. Since securing revised planning permission for the scheme in 2011 we have continued to work with Westfield and stress the huge importance of the scheme to Bradford. Like all Bradfordians I am now looking forward to the start of construction work which I believe will mark a significant change for the better in the city centre’s fortunes.”