Sites across Bradford and the wider West Yorkshire region that could benefit from a £334 million housing investment programme are expected to be revealed in the coming weeks.
The West Yorkshire Housing Investment Fund, backed by Government funding and administered by the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, aims to unlock stalled development sites and bring forward thousands of new homes across the region.
Members of the Combined Authority agreed to progress the programme at their most recent meeting, with officers now drawing up a list of potential sites that could benefit from the investment.
One project highlighted during discussions was Bradford’s proposed Southern Gateway development, a major regeneration scheme that would extend the city centre southwards between Leeds Road and Manchester Road.
The project is expected to deliver thousands of new homes alongside business space, community facilities and supporting infrastructure. According to a report presented to members, the funding is designed to unlock land for development and support schemes that have struggled to move forward.
West Yorkshire Mayor Tracy Brabin described the programme as a significant step forward in tackling housing shortages across the region. She said: “This is a really important step forward for how we deliver housing across the region.”
“We continue to be focused on unlocking brownfield sites and getting development moving where it might otherwise stall.” Highlighting the need for more housing, she added: “Far too many children are growing up in temporary accommodation.”
Ruth Davison, interim director of environment and place, said the programme would focus on building the right homes in the right locations. She said: “It will deliver over 4,000 homes across West Yorkshire and attract significant private investment.”
Ms Davison confirmed that a list of potential sites was being finalised and could be published later this month. She added: “Sometimes sites become locked and there are issues that prevent them being delivered.”
“This decision includes £5.5 million to de-risk sites and support them to the market to the point where these sites can move to delivery.”
The wider programme will also examine major regeneration opportunities, including Leeds South Bank, which has the potential to deliver around 20,000 homes, garden community developments in Calderdale and Kirklees that could provide a further 6,000 homes, and the Cathedral Quarter project in Wakefield, where around 1,000 homes are planned.
Mandy Ridyard, director of Baildon-based Produmax, welcomed the investment, saying it would help support both residents and employers. She said: “We welcome this from the business community.
“It creates homes for residents and work for residents. Businesses want to grow, and we need to make sure we’ve got the workforce and homes for that workforce.”
The Combined Authority says the fund will help accelerate development, attract private investment and support long-term regeneration across West Yorkshire.
