Bradford & District | Archive | 2003 | September | 26
From the Telegraph & Argus, first published Friday 26th Sep 2003.
At last, work is set to begin on the Rawson Quarter, the long-awaited new development to replace the old market in the city centre.
It's been a long time in coming - it's almost seven years since the market area was demolished to make way for this new facility.
But now a commitment has been made to have the Rawson Quarter open in time for Christmas next year, with national retailer Wilkinson forming the centrepiece of the complex.
Announcements like this, albeit delayed as it is, can only help towards the physical and spiritual regeneration of Bradford.
With its covered shopping centre, pedestrianised area and courtyard with glass walkway linking John Street and Godwin Street, this will visually be the type of development that Bradford has long been promised for the city centre.
And when it finally opens for business next year it will be a huge boost for the people of Bradford and a draw to getting people back into the city centre to shop. And the better people feel about coming into Bradford to shop, the more confidence that will give the city, and the better it will be at attracting yet more investment. It is a spiral that can only go onwards and upwards.
It is thought that work could begin as soon as next month, which would send the right message to the city that after such a long delay where nothing at all was seen to be happening, things are beginning to move apace.
Let us all hope that this development stays on track, is a success, and is another solid step on the road to truly regenerating Bradford city centre.
© Newsquest Media Group 2008