Grant of £2m to restore city's historic centre

Historic England said the money would help "rejuvenate important historic buildings"

A grant of £2m has been awarded to help restore and preserve the historic core of Bradford city centre.

The Historic England grant will be used to preserve and repurpose 19th Century buildings to improve economic growth in the city.

The Heritage Action Zone (HAZ) project will cover the area bordered by Bridge Street, Kirkgate and Sunbridge Road, extending to the Grade I listed City Hall.

The council said work was expected to start this year, but there would be no building work in 2025 to avoid disrupting UK City of Culture events.

Duncan Wilson, chief executive of Historic England, said the 2025 meant Bradford had an opportunity "to showcase its rich heritage while creating a vibrant, modern city centre".

"Our £2m investment will not only rejuvenate important historic buildings but also make the area more attractive for future investment, benefiting both residents and visitors.”

The plans would improve shopfronts and offer cash for repairs to 19th Century buildings

Regeneration plans include improving shopfronts on Ivegate and giving repair grants for prominent sites like Carters Block which faces Centenary Square.

The project will also be part of plans for the conservation and reuse of City Hall.

Councillor Alex Ross-Shaw, the council’s executive member for regeneration, planning and transport, said it was "thrilled" to receive the grant.

"This (HAZ) will not only preserve our historic buildings but also drive regeneration in the heart of the city," he said.

"By connecting our heritage with our future, we’re building a legacy that will benefit generations to come, boosting both local pride and economic growth."

The project is in addition to work already taking place in the city centre

The HAZ project also includes a community engagement and cultural programme, to encourage residents to find out more about the city’s heritage and will tie in with the UK City of Culture 2025 events.

Work is expected to start this year with older buildings being brought back into use and shops reopened.

But there will be no physical building work in 2025 so as not to disrupt the City of Culture programme.

The major structural and restoration work will start at the end of 2025 leading into 2026, he said.

Other projects in the city centre currently under way include the £24m Bradford City Village (Phase 1) development, the £27m Darley Street Market, and a new pedestrianisation scheme as part of the £40m Transforming Cities Fund.

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