Best way forward for a Park at the Heart
Bradford Council's Executive will decide the best way to deliver a Park at the Heart in the city centre.
The Executive meets on Tuesday 18 December to consider the options to take the scheme forward after the Council was unsuccessful in its grant application to the Big Lottery Fund's Living Landmarks programme.
An emergency meeting was held at the end of November where the Executive asked for a report outlining costs to develop and deliver a mirror pool and city centre park.
The Executive also authorised Chief Executive Tony Reeves to start negotiations with Yorkshire Forward and English Partnerships to fund the cost of developing the project through to the detailed design stage.
This report outlines three possible plans of action and recommends that the scheme presented to the Big Lottery Fund should be continued.
Should this option be chosen, it would see the creation of an iconic public park of national repute that would play host to high quality community events, increase visitor numbers, bring social and economic benefits to the district by providing more jobs and office space, and raise public realm standards.
A Business Forest will be developed after the Park at the Heart has been delivered.
The proposal also requires a commitment to relocating the Magistrates' Court to maximise the economic benefits of the scheme.
Bradford Council's Executive member for Regeneration, Coun Andrew Mallinson, said: "The people of the Bradford district showed tremendous support and input into the Park at the Heart plans and we are determined to explore every possible way to deliver what they want.
"The Chief Executive Tony Reeves has already been in negotiations with Yorkshire Forward and English Partnerships about our options to fund the scheme and this meeting will allow us to discuss the best way forward to deliver it."
Media Relations Officer:
Duncan Thorne
Telephone: 01274 433526
Fax: 01274 432005
Email: press.communications@bradford.gov.uk
Date: 11.12.07
