Plans for first phase of Bradford City Village submitted

Muse, through its joint venture ECF with Homes England and Legal & General, has submitted a detailed planning application for the first phase of City Village, a major urban regeneration project in central Bradford. The plans form part of a wider vision to transform the city's former commercial core into a sustainable, community-focused neighbourhood.

City Village will ultimately deliver up to 1,000 energy-efficient homes, with affordable housing included, as well as new public spaces and commercial opportunities. The scheme spans key city centre sites at Oastler, Kirkgate and Chain Street, known collectively as the 'Top of Town' area.

Phase one proposals include:

• 33 two- and three-bedroom townhouses on the Chain Street site, centred around a new community green.

• 64 additional townhouses on the northern portion of the Oastler site, arranged around landscaped courtyards.

• Supporting infrastructure such as safer road layouts, pedestrian-friendly public spaces and active travel routes designed to encourage walking and cycling.

The new homes are designed with sustainability in mind, featuring insulation, solar panels and EV charging facilities. Each home will also have private outdoor space and dedicated parking. Bradford-based affordable housing provider Incommunities has been named ECF's preferred funding partner for the first phase, subject to final legal agreements.

An outline planning application for the remainder of the City Village site has also been submitted. Later phases will include more than 700 apartments across the southern Oastler and Kirkgate sites.

The development supports Bradford Council's wider regeneration agenda as the city prepares to host the UK City of Culture 2025. Recent local investments include the new Darley Street Market and the upcoming Bradford Live venue. City Village is backed by £13.2 million of in-principle funding from the West Yorkshire Combined Authority and a further £30 million from Homes England.

Simon Dew, Director of Development Management at ECF, said the homes reflect lessons learned from other successful schemes. “We’ve incorporated sustainable features and high-quality design while responding to local feedback. This is an ambitious project that we believe will deliver lasting benefits for Bradford,” he said.

Councillor Susan Hinchcliffe, Leader of Bradford Council, described the plans as a "game-changer" for the city centre. “City Village is about more than housing; it’s about building a thriving, inclusive neighbourhood that brings people together,” she said.

If approved, demolition of the Oastler site is expected to begin later in 2025, with construction of phase one starting in spring 2026. The professional team includes 5plus Architects, Re-form Landscape Architecture, Avison Young, Cushman & Wakefield and Turner & Townsend.