Bradford Interchange Station Access

Visualisation showing how the proposed new Bradford Interchange entrance could look

Scheme Benefits

Although Bradford Interchange acts as a gateway for accessing the district, it is currently poorly connected to the city centre via Bridge Street and the current environment provides an uninspiring welcome and experience. The proposals for the Interchange being brought forward by Bradford Council in partnership with the West Yorkshire Combined Authority would dramatically improve access to the Interchange by creating a new approach to the station from the expanded Norfolk Gardens on Hall Ings, a proposal which is being brought forward through the wider City Centre scheme.

Improving the pedestrian access to the Interchange would complement a series of other transformational changes being proposed to improve the environment in Bradford city centre and transform the ways in which people get about.

Bradford Council has secured the lease to the NCP Car Park on Hall Ings, which it already owns the freehold for. The NCP Car Park would be demolished to allow the space to be opened up and a new, high quality approach to the Interchange to be created.

A new Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR) station is planned for the city centre. The preferred location is the St James's Wholesale Market site at the southern edge of the city centre. However, it is anticipated that the Interchange in its current location will remain a key public transport hub for accessing the city centre in the coming years. As part of the wider City Centre Improvements scheme, a new public transport corridor across the city centre is proposed which would tie into the Interchange. With NPR remaining some years away and the Interchange occupying a prominent location, the site will continue to act as key bus hub for those wishing to access the city centre, including City Park and the Cultural Quarter.

The development of this scheme enhances the area should future changes be made to the Interchange site and represents our ambition to provide quality infrastructure in the city centre.

Scheme Aims

The aims of the Bradford Interchange Station Access scheme are to create a:

• new high-quality pedestrian access to the Interchange which would dramatically improve how it connects with and ties into the heart of the city centre.
• new open and landscaped pedestrian approach to the Interchange, transforming the arrival in the city centre for visitors to City Park, Broadway and the emerging Cultural Quarter.
• better link and improved connectivity between the bus services and train platforms within the Interchange to allow people to transfer between modes of transport more easily.
  
  

The Proposals

As a key destination and transport hub in the city centre, Bradford Interchange is integral to the plans for the city centre. Through the scheme Bradford Council and the West Yorkshire Combined Authority plan to deliver a series of improvements at the Interchange, including:

• A new station approach: The new approach will begin from a newly pedestrianised Hall Ings and expanded Norfolk Gardens green space and will make it far more convenient for visitors to access the Interchange. The landscaped approach will feature new planting and greenery to improve the whole look and feel of the area, delivering a new sense of vibrancy and opening up views of the iconic Town Hall for people arriving in the area.
• Relocation of the car park and taxi rank: The current car park and taxi rank will be relocated to the rear of the station to allow the front entrance of the Interchange to be pedestrianised. These changes will be delivered through the West Yorkshire Plus Transport Fund, rather than the Transforming Cities Fund.
• Creation of a level walkway between buses and trains: The level walkway will provide a better connection between the bus and train platforms, which are currently poorly linked.
• Complementary improvements to the Interchange interior:West Yorkshire Combined Authority are developing a programme of works that will provide new and upgraded facilities at the Interchange to improve the overall user experience. Wider improvements include:
  • a new modern Travel Centre which will be located on the upper concourse with improved facilities to make information more accessible and reduce waiting times
  • a new public address system
  • new and repaired tactile signage
  • safety and security improvements, such as a new help point, pedestrian barriers, and warning beacons
  • improvements to help the Interchange run more efficiently with new, reduced flush toilets and an EV charge point for maintenance vehicles

The wider improvements to the Interchange being carried out by the West Yorkshire Combined Authority were consulted on last year and the findings can be found here.

Once complete users of the Interchange will benefit from an improved customer offering through the provision of new, modern facilities that also serve to make the Interchange safer, more accessible, and a more efficient facility to run.

For more information, please visit the FAQ section on this page.

Have Your Say

Bradford Council, in partnership with the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, has so far developed early-stage proposals for the Interchange, as well as for three other Transforming Cities Fund schemes. We want to understand the public’s views on the proposals before progressing to the next stage of design.

You can leave feedback in whatever way works best for you. Fill out our feedback form below or contact us at:

Email: info@future-bradford.co.uk
Freephone: 0808 196 9119
Freepost: Freepost BFD Highways (no stamp required)

Once the consultation has closed, Bradford Council will use your feedback and the consultation report to refine plans moving forward. Your feedback will help us to understand where we can make improvements to the proposed schemes and ensure that we have considered how to maximise the benefit for everyone who uses the Interchange and create a passenger arrival experience worthy of our great district.