Scaled-back Interchange plan creates pop-up park

Bradford Interchange

Overhauled plans to improve Bradford Interchange would see a "culture park" built in the heart of the city centre.

Detailed proposals for a new gateway to the rail and bus station were revealed earlier this month.

Yet the work cannot start because of the ongoing closure of the bus station for safety reasons.

Bradford Council and West Yorkshire Combined Authority said that a "scaled down" scheme would see a multi-storey car park replaced by the new park in time for City of Culture 2025.

Bradford Interchange has been closed for several months

Papers submitted to officials this week said the new "pocket park" would be a "first point of arrival" for visitors and would host smaller pop-up events during Bradford 2025.

The ambitious original scheme, funded by the Government’s Transforming Cities Fund, involved the demolition of the NCP car park on Hall Ings and the creation of a new concourse leading to the Interchange.

This work will go ahead but as part of a later phase of the project once the Interchange's future becomes clearer.

Referring to Hall Ings Park, a new planning application said: “The pocket park will be suitable for casual use or small ‘pop-up’ events in connection with the Bradford City of Culture 2025 programme.

“It will connect with the pedestrianised landscaping interventions on Hall Ings and will add to green infrastructure within the city centre.”

A new plaza would be laid out at the front of the Interchange to connect with the taxi rank on Bridge Street. It would have two retail kiosks and 20 planters for trees and flowers.

New signage would be installed to direct people to city centre attractions as well as the new bus stop layout.

When the Interchange proposals were first announced earlier this month, council officers said they were confident work would be completed by the end of the year in time for Bradford’s 12-month City of Culture period.

The bus station closed in January after a piece of concrete fell from the roof of an underground car park.