Draft Bradford District Local Plan - Preferred Options (Regulation 18) February 2021

Comment

Representation ID: 25250

Received: 23/03/2021

Respondent: Bradford Chamber of Commerce

The Chamber notes that the new Plan seeks to remove/reduce some Employment Zones, primarily due to housing allocations/sites. This reinforces the need to ensure there is sufficient employment land being allocated as existing sites are under threat from housing developments.

Comment

Representation ID: 25251

Received: 23/03/2021

Respondent: Bradford Chamber of Commerce

It is imperative that the Southern Gateway extension to the city centre retains a strong concentration of employment uses, particularly if the city secures a central NPR station.

The Chamber supports the Policy provision in relation to the increased diversity within the defined city centre; it is important that the balance of uses includes office, retail and other employment generating development to support visitors and workers as well as a resident population.

Object

Representation ID: 25252

Received: 23/03/2021

Respondent: Bradford Chamber of Commerce

City Centre Employment
Support extension of the city centre to include the Southern Gateway.

Plan identifies requirement of 7,000 homes, seeks to allocate 3,993 units and only 3 employment sites. Given the city centre’s importance to the economic and social outcomes of the District and City Region, it is critical that there is a more balanced approach to development to support a central NPR station and maximise the economic opportunity.

Significant reduction in employment floorspace in the city centre due to conversions, has reduced the concentration of businesses and impact on retail viability. Support the development of One City Park and other two allocations, this will not be sufficient to meet economic growth ambitions or support city centre as a retail/leisure destination. Not clear approach will support city centre as a healthy office, retail or leisure destination. Would like to see greater protection for existing city centre employment sites and identification of more employment/mixed use areas.

Comment

Representation ID: 25253

Received: 23/03/2021

Respondent: Bradford Chamber of Commerce

City Centre Housing
It is noted that 800 residential units have been delivered, these have been conversions rather than new-build. Market sale new-build units have not been viable – as recognised by the nil CIL requirement and lack of deliver of new-build units over recent years.

Concerned that at densities proposed, the majority of city centre homes will be apartments, not family homes. More balanced housing mix should be considered, reflecting the District’s demographics.

Question the ability to deliver housing at the density required without significant public sector intervention to improve viability or impacting on existing business. Increase in population needs to be accompanied by a step-change in the quality of the environment as well as access to jobs and open space.