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BBC News
29-04-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Bradford culture group hopes £3m revamp will boost footfall
A Bradford charity has been awarded £3m to transform its building into an arts and culture African Caribbean Achievement Project (ACAP) received a capital grant from Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture, partly funded by Bradford cash will go towards renovating ACAP's building on Claremont, in the Great Horton area, to provide space for music, dance, visual arts and McFarlane from ACAP said the group hoped to create "somewhere really visually pleasing" to attract more people through its doors. She said: "Although the state of the building doesn't put people off accessing it, with a newly refurbished space you can see how much more appealing that would be."Ms McFarlane said the revamped facility would help "put our culture on the map".She said: "As African and Caribbean people, we have contributed a lot to the city in terms of arts and culture so it's an opportunity for us to highlight some of the things that we've been doing in that space." 'Momentous year' Councillor Sarah Ferriby, Bradford Council's executive member for healthy people and places, said: "It's clear that this funding is going to have huge benefits for ACAP's current users and attracting new visitors and audiences."We look forward to the scheme being completed and flourishing."Dan Bates, executive director of Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture, added: "It's thrilling to see the growth of Bradford's creative infrastructure as we progress through this momentous year for the city and district."The work that ACAP do with communities of African and Caribbean descent across Bradford will be able to expand even further with this renovation, and we're proud to be a part of this next chapter in their journey." Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
BBC News
12-04-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Bradford woods and waterfalls could become community-owned
A waterfall could become community-owned after a campaign group helped to prevent its sale on the open Stock Wood, which includes a 20ft "hidden valley", near Bingley has now been designated as an Asset of Community Value by Bradford listing means that local supporters have been given a six-month window to raise the funds to buy the site of Goit Stock Wood campaigner Amy Wood said: "It's a really special place, not just for locals but for people who travel from all over to visit. We want to make sure it's safeguarded for future generations." She added: "It's about making sure the woods are maintained rather than just left to ruin. There's a lot of opportunity here. I think it would be really great for us to take it over."The woodland plot for sale is currently part of the privately owned Harden and Bingley Park, which also includes a static caravan holiday BBC understands the owners and their representatives initially had reservations about the listing but would now be "delighted" to sell to the community if a suitable business case was put Black from estate agents Savills, who is handling the sale, said: "They are aware that individuals are working hard to raise the funds and wish them luck." He added the designation "confirms the significance and value of the property to the region and gives time for seeking support, raising funds and hopefully submitting an acceptable offer".The original guide price for the 69-acre site was £350,000 but has since been reduced to £195,000. The sale brochure describes the woodland as a "well-known local landmark" in "largely unspoilt, attractive rolling countryside".The ancient valley, carved out during the last Ice Age, is home to several brochure listing says the spot was once a "thriving" site with six mills along the beck, and one former mill was even used as a café and ballroom before it burned down in 1927. Mrs Wood said the area remained a "peaceful" haven, rich in opportunities for learning, and home to a variety of plants, bird life, deer, and even rumours of otters. Community ownership would allow locals to manage the site sustainably, tackle invasive species and protect the area's biodiversity, she Village Council submitted the nomination to list the site as an Asset of Community Value on behalf of locals last Council has now confirmed the listing was successful and in its report, it acknowledged previous concerns about the fairness of delaying a potential sale for six months, especially since the land has been on the market since August it said such concerns from the owners and their agents were "not relevant" to the decision to list the Friends of Goit Stock Wood have also applied to become a charity and are now working on a long-term fundraising strategy. They are calling for volunteers with experience in fundraising or conservation to get involved."This is an opportunity to take responsibility for a piece of land that means so much to people," said Mrs Wood. "If we can secure it, we'll be able to preserve it in perpetuity for everyone to enjoy."Although the land benefits from some protections against overdevelopment and has public rights of access, campaigners said private ownership still poses a risk of wanting to get involved in the campaign is asked to email goitstockwood@ Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
BBC News
22-03-2025
- Automotive
- BBC News
Bradford city centre EV charging hub proposals submitted
A retail park could soon be home to what would be one of the biggest electric vehicle (EV) charging hubs in Bradford city centre if plans are approved.A planning application to fit 10 ultra-rapid EV charging bays at Bradford Forster Square Retail Park has been submitted to Bradford plans, by PoGo Charging, are for a row of parking spaces in part of the retail park next to Hamm Strasse, which the application said was "strategically located" to boost electric vehicle infrastructure in the bays would replace 19 spaces in the car park – a loss of nine spaces - but the application argued there was an ample number of other spaces available for drivers throughout the car park. According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, the proposal for the EV charging bays stated it was "of significant merit as it will improve customer offer and experience on site to meet customer demand by enabling the provision of electric vehicle charging"."The facility will provide strategically located electric vehicle charging bays for EVs, reducing CO2 emissions from road transport and reducing oil dependency as a transport fuel."This proposal provides the opportunity to meet targets for greenhouse gas reduction from road transport, improving air quality standards and increasing the use of alternative fuels by domestic drivers."The application said a recent report had found there were an increasing number of EV charging points being created across the UK, but it added: "Notably, these charge points are largely in the South and in urban areas, and are not equally distributed throughout the UK."Commenting on the plans, Bradford Council's clean air team said the charging bays would "support the council's wider carbon reduction programmes".A decision on the application was expected to be made by the authority in May. Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
