Bradford-based housing provider, Incommunities, has officially been appointed as the funding and delivery partner for the first phase of Bradford’s ‘City Village’ city centre neighbourhood.
The legal agreement also unlocks capital already secured through Homes England’s Brownfield, Infrastructure & Land (BIL) fund to support demolition and enabling works, which are due to start on site in the next few weeks.
The contract will see Incommunities work alongside Bradford Council and ECF (the partnership between Homes England’s National Housing Bank, L&G and nationwide placemaker, Muse) to deliver the first phase of new homes as part of this ambitious regeneration opportunity, which will create a sustainable community where people can live, work and thrive.
Phase one will deliver 97 high-quality, two and three-bed townhouses across Chain Street and the northern half of the Oastler site, providing a mix of homes for shared ownership and affordable and social rent, which will be owned and managed by Incommunities. The energy efficient homes will feature sustainable elements including photovoltaic panels and EV charging, alongside good connections to public transport links as well as new walking and cycling routes. They will also benefit from a series of outdoor squares, courtyards and green spaces to encourage social interaction and a strong sense of community.
Once completed, City Village will create up to 1,000 modern, energy-efficient homes across three sites at the ‘the top of town,’ alongside green spaces, improved public realm and will build on the area’s existing successful independent traders, introducing new opportunities for retail, leisure and business spaces.
Wakefield-based contractor, Metropolitan Demolition, will soon begin an eight-month demolition programme to remove the former Oastler Shopping Centre and clear surrounding buildings to pave the way for new homes. Works to facilitate construction of the new homes are expected to begin Winter 2027 and are due to finish by Summer 2029.
The signing of the legal agreement represents a significant step forward for the neighbourhood and reinforces Incommunities’ commitment to investing in Bradford. It currently has a portfolio of 22,000 homes, primarily in the Bradford district, with a strong reputation for providing high quality affordable housing, maintenance, repairs and community support to its residents.
City Village has already secured major inward investment, including £13.2 million in-principle funding from the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, a strategic partner which is helping to make the scheme a reality, alongside £30 million of Government funding via Homes England.
Later phases of City Village will include more than 300 apartments on the southern half of the Oastler site, alongside approximately 400 apartments at the site of the recently closed Kirkgate Shopping Centre. Demolition of the Kirkgate site is expected to begin early 2027, following a six-month programme of internal strip out works.
The neighbourhood – named one of seven ‘game-changing’ regeneration projects as part of the Council’s 10-year growth plan – is a major step forward in the plan to establish a new city centre residential offer to rival other major cities. It also supports Government ambitions to improve residential housing density in city centres – as set out in its Northern Growth Strategy 2026
The wider project team for City Village includes 5plus Architects, re-form Landscape Architecture, Avison Young, Cushman & Wakefield and Turner & Townsend.
For further information visit www.bradfordcityvillage.com