'It's cheaper but it's a great place to be'

German wool merchants set up shop in central Bradford in the mid-1800s

Bradford was once world renowned as a hotbed of textile-making activity, as the Industrial Revolution took hold.

German wool merchants even set up shop in the city centre in the mid-1800s, in an area which became known as Little Germany, and from there the local economy boomed.

But in 2024, things are different and the Bradford district is now among the most income-deprived areas of the UK, according to council data.

However, Little Germany remains an area that residents love - despite what has been described as its "unfilled potential".

Asadour Guzelian has an office in Little Germany with a view of Bradford Cathedral

Its tall, historic buildings are not dissimilar to those in Saltaire, an area of the Bradford district that has benefited from years of investment.

In fact, 55 of its 85 buildings are listed.

Asadour Guzelian, who owns a photography business in Little Germany, says: "I moved my business from Saltaire after seeing that develop and really prosper in the hope that Little Germany would follow the same path, but it hasn't happened.

"It's a perennial problem of unfilled potential.

"Ever since I came to Bradford in 1978, there was talk of Little Germany becoming a Covent Garden of the North."

Instead, a former council building called Olicana House was converted into 157 studio apartments across six floors.

In 2022, Jon Ackroyd, a council conservation officer, described it as "unsightly and incongruous in the historic environment of Little Germany".

One studio flat in that building is listed for sale for just £20,000, which one resident said would attract people with social difficulties.

Lara Oyedele says: "I've worked in social housing and what I know is that you do not concentrate those people together because it never ends well and that has created a bit of a negative vibe in the area."

Lara Oyedele moved from London to Bradford in 2018

Miss Oyedele moved from Tottenham, north London, in 2018, saying she could never afford her gated, two-bed flat with a roomy living area and kitchen.

Figures published by the Office for National Statistics show Little Germany and Barkerend West was the cheapest area in the UK to buy property, with a median price of just £52,909.

A quick look on Rightmove shows two-bedroom flats for sale for between £50,000 and £60,000 in Little Germany.

'Beautiful heritage'

Kamran Rashid, who co-founded the Impact Hub in Little Germany, a social enterprise that supports businesses and start-ups here and across Yorkshire, is calling for more investment in the area.

He says: "There's a real beautiful heritage of immigrants coming here as business folk, doing good stuff and making this city great.

"I'm a son of an immigrant and I think - doing social business - it is really apt for me to be based here in Little Germany."

But there is some way to go and, like in most areas, people have their gripes over the small problems.

Around large recycling bins are bags full of general waste, split open and food exposed.

Behind is a small mural of Bradford-born pop artist David Hockney, but there used to be an even bigger one that was taken down, much to the bemusement of residents including Michael Tachie-Menson, who also moved from London.

A large David Hockney mural was once on display

Despite this, Mr Tachie-Menson says the area is beautiful and he enjoys living there.

"A friend of mine from abroad was really fascinated by the architecture," he says.

"When people say Bradford, people probably have a negative view, but it's a beautiful part of the world.

"Yes, it is cheaper, but it's a great place to be."

Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North or tell us a story you think we should be covering here.