Ambitious 20m city centre office project welcomed as 'just what Bradford needs'

AN ambitious project to build a state-of-the-art office building in Bradford city centre to attract up to 3,500 public sector jobs has been welcomed.

The 20 million scheme would see Bradford Council's Jacob's Well office building in Nelson Street flattened, with the land sold to private developers to build a 200,000 sq ft public sector hub.

It is hoped the new building will attract tenants from across the country, such as Government departments, the NHS or the police, all working under the same roof - although no leases have yet been signed.

And it could be open for business in as little as three years' time.

Lobbying group Bradford Breakthrough, which campaigns for the city's regeneration, said the plan was positive news for the city. Chief executive Colin Philpott said: "It's just what Bradford needs. Bringing more jobs into the Bradford district generally - but into the city centre in particular - is obviously a good thing, for all sorts of reasons.

"I think what is particularly interesting about this is the idea of trying to relocate public sector jobs into Bradford - not necessarily ones to do with Bradford Council."

Alan Hall, of Bradford Civic Society, said bringing Government jobs to Leeds had given a huge boost to its regeneration, so if the same could be done in Bradford it would be a very positive step.

He said: "I wouldn't weep over Jacob's Well as a building going. I don't think it has any great merit at all, really.

"It depends what's built on there and what it looks like, but if it is something which the Council feels will attract employment and investment into the middle of Bradford then that can only be a good thing.

"If it acts as a catalyst to regenerate the centre of Bradford, then that's bound to be a good thing. But we will have to wait and see, won't we?"

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Ambitious 20m city centre office project welcomed as 'just what Bradford needs'