Please note, this consultation has now closed.

Thank you to all who took part. All responses have been collected and are included in the outcome report.

Below is the information presented between 1 and 29 November 2022:

Introduction

Bradford is set to benefit from a series of transport schemes aimed at transforming the city centre and making it easier for people to walk, cycle and use public transport.

This includes planned improvements at, and around, Bradford Interchange, to transform access to the area and improve the Interchange as a key gateway to the city.

These schemes, which are all at different stages of development, are being delivered in partnership by the West Yorkshire Combined Authority and Bradford Council. You can find out more about the Bradford transport schemes here.

This investment is an example of how the Combined Authority and Bradford Council are working in partnership to make Bradford an even better place to live, work, raise a family and flourish in the lead-up to City of Culture in 2025.

This consultation

Bradford Council and the Combined Authority are bringing forward ambitious plans to improve the look, feel and convenience of the entrance to Bradford Interchange. This is the second round of consultation where we're asking for your views in this survey. The first round was in July-September 2021 and you can view the details and the outcome of the consultation here.

The proposals would play a key role in the ambitious plans to boost the regeneration of Bradford city centre and to integrate with other transport plans for the city centre such as the Bradford City Centre Walking and Cycling Improvements Scheme.

The scheme is funded by the Leeds City Region Transforming Cities Fund (TCF).

How can I get involved?

On this webpage you will find information to help you understand what is proposed and what has changed since the first round of consultation that took place in summer 2021.

We would like your feedback on the updated proposed plans. We recommend you first look at the map, the image of the interior and the visualisations of the outside, as well as reading the plans below and the frequently asked questions, before you complete our survey.

We will also be holding some face-to-face events where you can find out about the proposals from the project team and ask them questions. These will take place on:

• Tuesday 15th November 2022 at Bradford Interchange 3pm - 7pm
• Tuesday 22nd November 2022 at Bradford Interchange 11am - 2pm

Bird's Eye View of Bradford Interchange

The aims

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

• Improve the experience of using the Interchange to encourage more people to travel by train, bus, walking and cycling
• Create a high-quality pedestrian access to the Interchange which would dramatically improve how it connects with and ties into the heart of the city centre
• Create a 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

The proposals

A new station approach

The new approach to the station would begin from the newly pedestrianised Hall Ings, which is proposed to be closed to traffic under the City Centre Walking and Cycling Improvements Scheme. The demolition of the NCP car park on Hall Ings will commence in the next few months and a new high-quality pocket park with new planting and greenery will be created in its place. Bradford Council purchased the NCP car park on Hall Ings in 2017 with the intention of demolishing it to improve access to the Interchange.

A walkway would be created between this pocket park and the entrance just off Bridge Street. These changes would 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.

There would also be lighting columns and CCTV around the pocket park, walkway and entrance to the Interchange to give a feeling of safety and security, particularly at night.

Buses would continue to enter the Interchange, from Bridge Street and Nelson Street, as they do now. We are also looking at the feasibility of a new, third entrance from Britannia Street.

Relocation of the taxi rank and disabled parking

To accommodate a pedestrianised front entrance to the Interchange, the current taxi rank would be relocated to Bridge Street. These changes are in conjunction with the City Centre Walking and Cycling Improvements Scheme. A turning circle would be built at Bridge Street’s junction with Hall Ings, allowing taxis and private vehicles to drop off and pick up easily.

There will also be disabled parking provision adjacent to the Interchange entrance on Bridge Street.

Complementary improvements to the interior

We are developing a programme of works that will provide new and upgraded facilities at the Interchange to improve the overall user experience. Wider improvements are likely to include:

• New internal layouts, furniture and seating to improve the waiting environment
• New and improved signage and tactile signage for people with visual impairments
• Safety and security improvements, such as a new Help Point, new internal and external lighting and lit handrails
• Additional facilities such as baby changing, a multi-faith room and new ‘Changing Places’ facilities for those with disabilities
• Improvements to make the Interchange more sustainable, such as reduced-flush toilets. Other sustainability improvements are currently being considered, such as rain gardens to improve filtration, and using sustainable, low maintenance materials

Once complete, users of the Interchange will benefit from an improved new, modern facilities that will make the Interchange safer and more accessible.

New entrance to the underground car park

There would be a new pedestrian entrance to the underground car park which sits below the bus concourse of the Interchange. The entrance would be located towards the back of the pocket park and would reconfigure the front of the entrance to have more air and light. This would make it easier and safer to get between the car park and the Interchange.

A new cycle hub

A new secure cycle hub is also proposed in the vicinity of the Interchange to encourage more people to reach the Interchange by cycling. The cycle hub is planned to have space for up to 75 cycles with the exact location of the hub to be determined.

The 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. Providing a good first impression to visitors is important, particularly when we become the UK City of Culture in 2025.

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 through the Walking and Cycling Improvements Scheme and transform the ways in which people get about. The scheme would also sit alongside the new Bradford Live, Darley Street Market, Top of the Town Improvements and City Village. It would also help attract new businesses to the city the new offices in One City Park.

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.

Have your say

It is important that you get the chance to find out more and shape what the proposals will mean for you and your area. This second round of public consultation on the proposals for the Bradford Interchange Station Access Improvements Scheme is now underway and we want to hear your views ahead of the detailed design stage.

Future consultations will be posted on Your Voice – please register here if you would like to be kept informed.

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

Email: info@future-bradford.co.uk

Freephone: 0808 196 9119

Freepost: Freepost BFD Highways

This consultation closes at 11.59pm on Tuesday 29 November 2022.

If you have any questions about this survey or the project itself, ask us a question.

If you or someone you know is unable to access information online, please get in touch with us using the contact details above. We can arrange a different way to provide information – such as we can send information in different sized print formats to make it easier to read – so that you or they can get involved.

Next Steps

Once the consultation has closed, we will consider your feedback to refine plans moving forward. Your feedback will help us to understand where we can make improvements to the proposed scheme and ensure that we have considered all opportunities.