Market square upgrade project further delayed

The delays are due to the amount of time required to source building materials, according to Bradford Council

Further delays to a £4m overhaul of a West Yorkshire town's market square has left the scheme a year behind schedule.

The refurbishment of Shipley’s Market Square was originally due to be completed in December, however the finish date was recently pushed back to May 2025.

It has now emerged work will not begin until early next year, leaving a completion date of November 2025, council planners said.

Bradford Council said the delay was due to a lengthy wait for delivery of the paving material required for the project.

The project is being partly funded by the Shipley Towns Fund, a £25m government scheme to boost regeneration, and includes the creation of more green space to stage events.

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, the revamp will now finish close to the conclusion of Bradford's role as UK City of Culture.

The revamp of Shipley's Market Square is expected to cost about £4m

A Bradford Council spokesperson said its start date had been put back due to "the required lead time for some of the materials".

The spokesperson added: "We know how important this space will be to people and market traders for 2025 and we will be liaising with traders to ensure market days can still proceed where possible to cause minimal disruption.

“Work will be phased to allow markets and events to take place as much as possible during construction and the end result will be a fantastic space that will serve Shipley well for many years to come.”

Work to revamp the town centre’s public toilets was due to begin in October, the authority confirmed.

Anna Dixon, Shipley's Labour MP, said: "I share in the disappointment about further delays to the redevelopment of Shipley Market.

"These delays are frustrating, but the redevelopment and improvements to Shipley town centre will be fantastic once completed."

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