BROADWAY DEVELOPERS GIVE TOTAL SUPPORT TO CAMPAIGN

The Telegraph & Argus Buy It In Bradford campaign has today won the backing of the company which is planning to transform the city centre with a vast shopping complex.

The bosses behind the Broadway scheme have hailed our initiative as great news for the city.

The face of Bradford is changing forever as concrete tower blocks are being demolished to make way for a new state-of-the-art shopping centre.
The scheme was originally being carried out by developers Stannifer but the firm’s parent business was taken over by Australian company Westfield – the world’s biggest retail centre operators.

Bosses of the firm, which operates shopping centres in Australia, America and New Zealand have said the Broadway scheme would help to attract more people into the centre.

Westfield’s UK development director John Burton praised the T&A’s campaign to keep people coming into the city centre while building work is underway . Mr Burton said: “Bradford is perfectly positioned to tap into a very large surrounding market.

“The existing retail offer is very good, road access is good and parking is good. In due course we will give people many, many more reasons to ensure that money earned in Bradford goes back into the community.”

He said he wanted to give the campaign, which will include discounts, prizes and the distribution of 200,000 Shoppers’ Loyalty Cards over the next two weeks, his overwhelming support.

Bradford’s Bhs store was due to close in January for almost three years before returning to a state-of-the-art store in the new shopping centre.

But now it has decided to stay on until August at the latest as Westfield examines its acquisition and looks at demolition and construction methods.

Today a Bhs spokesman said the company would leave Bradford temporarily “no later than August” although she could give no dates.

The Central House end of the existing Broadway scheme – which includes Bhs – was originally expected to be demolished in Spring.

Mr Burton said today they were looking at different construction and demolition methods to enable them to keep within the time scales given by Stannifer.
He added they had met Bhs staff and agreed a wider timescale in which they could work round the store if necessary.

He said they were reviewing the mix of units in the new shopping scheme and in talks with Bradford Council.

He said: “We have not let the demolition contract yet but the work we are doing is aimed at starting the programme. The scheme is still on schedule.”

Work is also forging ahead on preparing the services and roads ready for the vastly-changed city in the £22 million Connecting the City scheme.

It is being carried out by Bradford Council with its main contractor Mowlem plc and is on target and expected to be completed in the summer.

It has run more than £2 million over costs as a result of changes to the original plans for the Broadway scheme adopted last year.

e-mail: olwen.vasey@bradford.newsquest.co.uk

You’ll get the personal touch!	Business is booming for Superdrug
Stead & Simpson manager Walter Lazoryk, above, has given his backing to the Telegraph & Argus Buy it in Bradford. He believes the excellent services shoppers get from Bradford shops should ensure they keep on coming into town. He said: “People may be of a mistaken belief that this part of town is virtually closed. But that is not the case. Our new spring lines are here and we are doing OK. “We have a lot of regulars who come to us for extra personal service. Not everyone wants to travel that far for the shops. “There are half a million people here and we are staying very positive about the whole redevelopment. “It should have been built 20 years ago in my opinion and we have to keep on going until it is built. A lot of businesses are beavering away and are offering the service that many multiple chains can’t offer. We appreciate all our customers because without them we would not be here.”	Superdrug in Broadway has been rebranded and business is booming, according to deputy manager Melanie Tottie. “We are staying here, we are not going anywhere. Business is doing very well for us. We are office-driven during the week and the redevelopment has been good for business as we get the builders in for drinks. “As a chain we have been rebranded and we are lighter and brighter and that is what customers want. Bradford is going very well for us. “The campaign is a good one to make sure people know just what is here and to tell them they don’t have to travel to shop.”