Awards honour for city centre pedestrian project

Norfolk Gardens has been expanded to create a green space

The pedestrianisation of Bradford city centre has won a national award for its biodiversity and public health benefits.

The major works were completed earlier this year, which included pedestrianising Bridge Street, Bank Street and Hall Ings.

A large section of Hall Ings has become a new park, with more green spaces added across the city centre.

The works have been recognised in two categories at the Pro Landscaper Sustainability & Biodiversity Awards.

Bradford Council's Landscape Design Team were presented with the Local Authority Award for their "bold, landscape-led transformation of urban spaces across the district, which have been recognised to have sustainability, biodiversity and public health at their heart".

The Bradford City Centre Walking and Cycling Improvement Scheme - the official name of the city centre works - was recognised in the Commercial Build Project category, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

The work was funded through West Yorkshire Combined Authority's Transforming Cities Fund, which was first announced by the government in 2020.

The awards recognised the whole project team, including Bradford Council as the client, West Yorkshire Combined Authority as the project funder, Balfour Beatty as principal contractor and Sweco UK as lead designer.

Commercial landscape company Gavin Jones, which picked up the award on behalf of the project, was involved as the specialist landscape contractor for the scheme.

Alex Ross-Shaw, Bradford Council's executive member for regeneration, planning and transport, said: "Bradford city centre has undergone a bold transformation that places people, heritage and climate resilience at its heart.

"Once defined by car-dominated streets, our city centre is reimagined as a walkable, welcoming and vibrant destination.

"Bradford has reclaimed its streets for people."

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