Details of more funding for market kept secret

The costs of the new market have risen sharply in recent years

Bradford Council bosses have released extra funding for the delayed Darley Street Market project - although the amount remains a secret.

The council's executive agreed to the extra funding for the market, which had recently been budgeted at £31m, at a meeting on Tuesday.

However, details of the money were discussed in private after the local authority claimed publicising them could undermine its efforts to get the best deal.

Alex Ross-Shaw, the council's executive member for regeneration, planning and transport, said it was "disappointing" the market needed more funding "but I recognise everyone is working round the clock to get this done".

The market was due to open in 2024, but the council now says it will open later in 2025.

Ross-Shaw added: "The food court will be a new offer for the city centre and the market square will be a fantastic asset."

During the meeting it was also revealed that the market's food court is now fully let.

Ross-Shaw said other buildings on Darley Street were being refurbished and regenerated because of the scheme.

"The Loading Bay [a new arts hub on Piccadilly] is opening soon, so it has facilitated a lot of regeneration already," he said.

"We need this to move forward, it is the right project for Bradford."

'Delay after delay'

Angela Blake, director for economic development and housing, added: "This was a project brought about to replace two life-expired markets.

"It is a catalyst for regeneration and key for our city village moving forward."

Councillor Rebecca Poulsen, leader of the Conservatives on Bradford Council, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that in the private session of the meeting she questioned why there were different timescales for the fitting out of different floors.

"Delay after delay and uncertainty is making life very difficult for existing stallholders and I asked about support for them," she said.

"I also raised other markets, in particular Keighley Market, and how many stallholders feel forgotten about and abandoned by the council who only want to focus on Darley Street."

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