Yorkshire businesses benefit from Broadway development works
THIRTEEN Yorkshire businesses have scooped contracts at the £260m Bradford Broadway development.
The new centre, being developed by Australian developer Westfield, in the heart of the city is expected to open its doors in time for the Christmas shopping period in 2015 and is estimated to create 1,500 construction jobs and 2,500 new retail jobs for Bradford.
Yorkshire businesses to benefit from the development include Bradford-based ground works company Moortown, which was the first contractor to be appointed to work on the Broadway site when construction work started six months ago. The company is expected to be on site until Christmas this year.
Moortown has more than 90 people working on the site to carry out the ground works, drainage works and laying 140,000 sq metres of concrete. 30 staff were employed specifically for this development.
Other business involved are Pitts Wilson; Boss Security; Cementation Skanska; Severfield-Rowen; Foremans; Benchmark; Northern Steel Decking; T W Catering; Clearwell; Ebor Concrete and Dearnside Fabrications.
The 570,000 sq ft new shopping centre will feature a 106,000 sq ft Debenhams department store and a 63,000 sq ft Marks & Spencer as anchor retailers, along with 70 additional shops, restaurants and cafes, including major high street retailers Next, River Island and just announced Topshop, Topman and Sainsbury’s.
Keith Whitmore, head of design and construction for Westfield, said: “The Broadway shopping centre will provide a major stimulus for the regional economy by creating direct and indirect jobs across a range of industries.
“We remain committed to working with supply chain partners from across the region where practically possible and today’s announcement demonstrates the innovation and expertise that exists in many firms in Yorkshire.”
Bradford Council leader, coun David Green, added: “It’s really good to see businesses from the Bradford District benefiting from the construction of the Broadway shopping centre and we welcome the boost in jobs this will bring to local people.
“In the long term, we hope the increased footfall the development will generate, will in turn boost existing businesses in the city centre and help the local economy go from strength to strength.”
