Demolition underway for Bradford’s flagship City Village neighbourhood

Work is underway on the demolition of the Oastler site in Bradford ahead of the first phase of homes being delivered as part of City Village – one of the most ambitious city centre regeneration opportunities in the district’s history.

Delivery partners Bradford Council and ECF (our partnership between Homes England’s National Housing Bank and L&G), alongside representatives from the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, Homes England and Incommunities, gathered on site this week to mark this major milestone.

Over the next 8 months, work to remove the former Oastler Shopping Centre and surrounding buildings including 22-24 Rawson Road (the former home of Bradford Brewery) and the Bazaar building, is being carried out by Wakefield-based contractor, Metropolitan Demolition. Construction of 97 high-quality two and three-bedroom townhouses is expected to begin in summer 2027.

Simon Dew, Managing Director for Yorkshire and the North East, said:

“It’s not just about delivering much needed new homes, it’s about setting the foundations for a new community to thrive for the long-term, whilst unlocking the wider economic potential of the city. A demolition programme of this scale in an urban centre is a significant undertaking, but every measure is being put in place to minimise the impact – including maintaining access to local businesses.”

Councillor Andrew Judson, Bradford Council’s Executive Member for Economy, Regeneration and Planning, said:

“This transformational project is now moving from planning into delivery. These sites have played an important role in Bradford’s history and we are now preparing them for a new future at the heart of our city centre. City Village will deliver much-needed high-quality homes, attractive public spaces and new opportunities for business, helping to create a thriving neighbourhood.

“This is a once-in-a-generation project that will bring new life and investment into Bradford city centre and support our wider long-term ambitions for growth.”

The demolition and enabling works are being supported via the first release of capital from £30m already secured for City Village through Homes England’s Brownfield, Infrastructure & Land (BIL) fund. The neighbourhood has also secured £13.2 million funding from the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, a strategic partner which is helping to make the scheme a reality.

Tom Bridges, Executive Regional Director of the North East, Yorkshire and the Humber at Homes England said:

“The demolition of the Oastler site marks a significant step forward for City Village, one of our priority focus areas being brought forward through our Strategic Place Partnership with West Yorkshire Combined Authority. By combining capital investment from our Brownfield, Infrastructure and Land Fund with the investment and expertise of our partners, we’re paving the way for this ambitious city centre regeneration opportunity to begin.

“Clearing the way for these 97 new homes is just the start. Bradford city centre has huge potential, and this project will deliver the high-quality, sustainable homes that the area needs, while unlocking wider economic growth and investment. We look forward to continuing to work with Bradford Council, ECF and all our partners as the scheme moves from demolition into construction.”

The new homes, a mix of shared ownership, and affordable and social rent, will be owned and managed by Bradford-based housing provider, Incommunities. Phase one will also include the delivery of safer roads, landscaped public spaces and active travel routes that promote walking and cycling to help create a sustainable community with health and wellbeing at its heart.

Once completed, City Village will include up to 1,000 modern, energy-efficient homes alongside new retail, leisure and community spaces and improved connections to the city centre. The neighbourhood is designed to bring more people into the heart of Bradford, whilst supporting existing businesses and attracting new investment and opportunities.

At the former Kirkgate Shopping Centre site, an initial six-month internal strip-out programme is now underway, before external demolition starts in spring 2027. The site will eventually accommodate hundreds of apartments delivered over two later phases.

Across both sites, demolition will be carried out by Metropolitan using specialist machinery to safely dismantle buildings piece by piece. Measures including screening and water suppression are being used to minimise dust, while work will take place during standard daytime hours to reduce disruption. Bradford Council, ECF and Metropolitan Demolition will keep residents, businesses and stakeholders informed throughout the programme, with regular updates provided as work progresses. Some roads will be temporarily closed; have lanes closed or have traffic controls installed for public safety during the demolition.

City Village is one of fifteen places identified in the Strategic Place Partnership between the West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA) and Homes England which aims to unlock ambitious, complex residential regeneration and boost the delivery of thousands more homes.

Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire said:

“This marks a new chapter in Bradford’s history which will deliver new homes and green spaces.  Bradford’s City Village demonstrates our ambitions to ensure people have somewhere they’re proud to call home while also making West Yorkshire a more attractive place to live, work, visit and invest.”

The wider team for City Village includes 5plus Architects, re-form Landscape Architecture, Avison Young, Cushman & Wakefield and Turner & Townsend.