After six years in the planning and as part of a £91 million redevelopment, one UK city is set to receive a huge economic boost this summer and shoppers are getting excited.
Darley Street Market in Bradford, West Yorkshire will open on Saturday, July 12, six years after plans were first approved by Bradford Council. The market will host events across the inaugural weekend, on both 12 & 13 July, to mark the opening, according to the council.
Inside, there will be three bustling trading floors, with the top floor dedicated to a food court, the middle floor being home to shops selling meat, fruit and vegetables, and the ground floor selling clothes, jewellery, perfumes and cosmetics. The food court will include restaurants serving food from Mexico, Greece, Sri Lanka, Japan, Thailand, Syria and Italy.
There will also be a café and deli – with outdoor seating – in the market square, with the infrastructure to host events, including film festivals, on a dedicated large screen. A terrace balcony overlooking the 1,000 m2 open air market square that will welcome independent traders as well as creating a cultural space for live music, arts and entertainment.
Councillor Susan Hinchcliffe, leader of Bradford Council, described the market as “a key part of our regeneration strategy”.
She added: The building itself is a purpose-built, high-spec space, with a focus on fresh food and a food court. It also includes an events space which will allow food, culture, and social experiences to bring people together in a vibrant place for all to enjoy. We’re confident it will draw people to it as a major destination for Bradford.”
Construction of a new multi-million pound indoor market hall building that has been designed to revitalise Bradford city centre has been completed by Kier. The new building has been officially handed over to Bradford Council after the contractor completed the build in 2024. Set in a 4000m2 prime city centre location, it is thought the multi-million pound redevelopment will be a huge boost to the city whose centre has shown signs of neglect, with empty shops, boarded-up buildings, and abandoned industrial sites.
Below the market square is a large underground area for trader deliveries, additional storage and waste handling and recycling. The state-of-the-art venue has energy efficiency at its core, with escalators and lifts powered by 190 rooftop solar panels, with air source heat pumps and photovoltaic panels heating the water supply. Toilets are flushed using an automatic rainwater harvesting system providing a consistent supply of water that will also feed the watering system for the outdoor planting areas. This is supported by real-time weather data to ensure optimal storage levels are maintained whilst minimising wastewater discharge.
Two flood-prevention holding tanks can also capture up to 9,000 litres of rainwater, which will help to control the flow of water into the main sewer. The market’s ten roof lights and wall mounted grilles provide the interior with natural light and ventilation whilst also regulating internal temperatures and reducing the need for artificial heating or cooling.
Other integrated features include a digital energy management system that will monitor, analyse and control the market’s internal environment, as well as a smart heating system to reduce energy consumption and an extensive network of smart meters to track energy use.
Councillor Alex Ross-Shaw,Bradford Council’s Executive Member for Regeneration, Planning and Transport said: “I’d like to thank partners Kier for their work on the construction of this new state-of-the-art market building, which will be enjoyed by people from across the district and beyond. We’re looking forward to progressing through the next stage of the project, which is working with traders on the fit out of their stalls.”
Dan Doherty, regional director of Kier Construction North & Scotland added: “This is a stand-out development for Bradford city centre and brings urban sustainability and community development together in one building.
“I am incredibly proud of the work our teams have done to finish this fantastic building, as well as the positive legacy we’ll leave behind as a result of our work within the local community. I look forward to seeing the market and local area flourish once it is completed. Thank you to everyone involved.”
