Muse submit plans for Bradford’s City Village regeneration project.

The project is expected to have up to 1,000 residential units, among other amenities. Muse, a UK-based construction business, has filed plans for the first phase of the City Village revitalisation project.

The initiative aims to turn Bradford’s former commercial district into an urban neighbourhood.

The initiative is led by the English Cities Fund (ECF), a public-private partnership of Homes England, Legal & General, and Muse. The project will be built throughout the ‘Top of Town’ area, which includes the Oastler, Kirkgate, and Chain Street sites.

The City Village project aims to build up to 1,000 residential units, including affordable housing alternatives.

Muse stated that the development will also help current independent enterprises and include retail, leisure, and commerce areas.

The project’s main feature is the establishment of additional public areas, including three landscaped green spaces that will be integrated into the Bradford City Centre Walking and Cycling Improvement Scheme.

A complete planning application for the initial phase, as well as an outline of the entire site, has been submitted.

The first phase of the project includes several essential components, including the construction of 33 townhouses on the Chain Street site, which will be organised around a new communal green.

These residences will have two or three bedrooms, each with its own parking spot. Furthermore, 64 new homes are proposed for the northern Oastler site, grouped around courtyards and open spaces, with assigned parking.

Earlier this year, Incommunities, a Bradford-based affordable housing provider, was selected as ECF’s preferred funding partner for the first phase of townhouses, subject to a final legal agreement.

Future phases of the City Village proposal include about 300 flats on the southern Oastler site and around 400 units on the Kirkgate site.

ECF has worked with Bradford Council over the last 18 months to develop these proposals in response to community consultations.

The project has received £13.2 million ($17.91 million) in in-principle funding from the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, as well as £30 million from the UK government through Homes England. ECF director of development management Yorkshire and North East Simon Dew said:

“The design of these homes, based on the experience of our other award-winning communities across the country, incorporates sustainable elements such as insulation, photovoltaic panels, and EV [electric vehicle] charging to ensure they are as energy efficient as possible.”

“These are high-quality residences with gardens, reserved parking and convenient access to public transport, as well as new walking and cycling paths.

“This is an ambitious, visionary project, and we have the best team working together with the council to bring it to life. We are all incredibly pleased of what this means for future generations in Bradford.”

Pending clearance, demolition at the Oastler site is planned to begin later this year, with construction on the first phase beginning in early 2026.

The Bradford City Village project team consists of 5plus Architects, re-form Landscape Architecture, Avison Young, Cushman & Wakefield, and Turner & Townsend.

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