The Broadway, Bradford

In 1998 the Forster Square Development Partnership was established between Magellan Properties, Caddick Developments and the City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council. They planned a 51,096 m² (570,000 sq ft) shopping centre containing Primark, Next, River Island, and over 90 shops and other leisure facilities. (BHS had a store in Broadway, but it demolished as part of the demolition of the previous development on the site and C&A also had a store on the old Broadway but closed all UK stores in 2001 and thus cancelled plans to be part of this redevelopment). The partnership sold it to Stannifer which was bought out by the Westfield Group in December 2004. Planning permission for the development was approved on 10 September 2003, with the claim that 3,000 new jobs could be created. Demolition on the Forster Square site started on 18 March 2004 and by mid-2006 the site was empty apart from a large pile of rubble. It was originally hoped that the complex would be open by late 2007 The delays led to Bradford Council threatening to take back control of the site from Westfield, if progress was not made. In April 2010, after several years in which no construction had taken place, the project was mothballed and work began on creating a temporary park on part of the site. The site was subsequently occupied by protesters unhappy about the lack of development. In January 2014, the park was demolished, and work resumed on the construction. The centre was opened at 10 am on 5 November 2015, by Alexandra Burke at the Forster Square entrance, and simultaneously at other entrances by representatives from Bradford City and the Bradford Burns Unit, and by the world's longest-married couple Karam and Kartari Chand. In 2021 Debenhams closed following the firm's liquidation. The Marks and Spencer store closed on 18 May 2024. == Temporary urban park ==

In February 2010, almost 6 years after the start of demolition, Bradford Council announced a plan to convert part of the construction site into a temporary park. The park would include new footpaths, seating, grassed areas, urban allotments and a performance area == Timeline ==

• 20 November 2007 – Westfield installed staff cabins and began preparatory work prior to beginning construction. • Also in November 2007, Westfield applied to change the planning permission to include a hotel. • August 2008 – No formal start date for construction yet announced, currently half of the total shop space has been let. The developers have pledged to start work 'as soon as possible' and preparatory work on the site was due to be completed by mid-August 2008. • 20 May 2009 – Bradford West Member of Parliament Marsha Singh raised the lack of progress on the site during Prime Minister's Questions in the House of Commons. Gordon Brown, the Prime Minister, stated that he would be willing to hold a meeting with Westfield to discuss the issue • February 2010 – Bradford Council announced plan to convert part of the site into a temporary park • October 2011 – Bradford Council pass revised planning application. • July 2013 - Announcement made. Restarting construction in the second half of 2013 • January 2014 – The temporary garden closed to allow workers to start the project. • May 2015: Westfield 75% of construction completed • 5 November 2015 – Final touches and the Broadway Bradford opened its doors to the city centre with 73 shops to shop and explore ==Retailers==

When opened, the shopping centre included Marks and Spencer and Debenhams as its anchor retailers. HMV, Next and H&M were also tenants at the opening of the cinema. Most retailers had relocated from more traditional parts of the city centre such as the Kirkgate Centre or Darley Street. There is also The Light Cinema, a food court and a multi-storey car park. == References ==