Bradford’s long-awaited City Village regeneration scheme has secured planning approval, unlocking the delivery of up to 1,000 new homes in the city centre and marking a major milestone in the transformation of the former commercial core.
The flagship Bradford City Village development is being led by Bradford Council in partnership with ECF, the regeneration joint venture between Homes England, Legal & General and Muse Developments. The scheme will reshape the ‘Top of Town’ area, spanning Chain Street and the former Oastler and Kirkgate shopping centres.
Phase one to deliver 97 townhouses in Bradford city centre
Detailed planning consent has been granted for phase one, which will see 97 townhouses built across Chain Street and the northern section of the former Oastler Shopping Centre site. The homes will be arranged around new courtyards, landscaped green spaces and a central community green, reflecting a shift towards lower-rise, family-friendly city-centre living.
Bradford-based housing association Incommunities has been identified as preferred funding partner for the first phase. The organisation is expected to support delivery of homes for both sale and rent, subject to final legal agreements.
Outline consent for 700+ apartments, retail and leisure space
Alongside detailed approval for phase one, outline planning consent has been secured for the wider masterplan. This includes more than 700 apartments across the southern Oastler site and the Kirkgate area, in addition to new retail, leisure and commercial space designed to support a rebalanced city-centre economy.
Demolition works are now set to begin on the former Oastler Shopping Centre, which closed last summer. The programme is expected to take around seven months. The 1970s Kirkgate Shopping Centre will also close later this year, with demolition earmarked for late 2026 as part of the phased regeneration strategy.
Construction of the first homes is scheduled to start this summer, with a build programme of approximately 24 months.
£43m funding boost for Bradford housing regeneration
The Bradford City Village scheme has already secured significant public backing. It has received £13m in-principle funding from the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, alongside £30m from Homes England.
City Village is one of 15 priority regeneration locations identified under the Strategic Place Partnership between the West Yorkshire Combined Authority and Homes England. The initiative is focused on unlocking complex urban housing sites, increasing residential density and driving city-centre renewal in line with the Government’s Northern Growth Strategy.
Professional team appointed for City Village masterplan
The consultant team supporting the Bradford City Village regeneration includes:
- 5plus Architects
- re-form Landscape Architecture
- Avison Young
- Cushman & Wakefield
- Turner & Townsend
A residential-led revival for Bradford city centre
For Bradford, the 1,000-home City Village regeneration signals a decisive pivot away from retail-led decline towards a residential-led recovery model. By introducing a critical mass of new homes, public realm and mixed-use space, the scheme aims to reposition the city centre as a competitive location for renters and first-time buyers.
If delivered as planned, Bradford City Village will not only repurpose underperforming retail assets but also reshape the urban fabric of the ‘Top of Town’, creating a more sustainable, higher-density neighbourhood at the heart of the city.
