The Channel, Bradford facts for kids

The Channel, Bradford is a future development in the city of Bradford, West Yorkshire, England, aimed at regenerating part of the centre of Bradford. The scheme proposes to reintroduce the Bradford branch of the Leeds-Liverpool Canal, creating a new canalside community. The community will comprise around 360 family homes, live/work studios and apartments with mixed tenure and a range of local retail facilities, café/bars, restaurants, and community facilities such as a health centre, nursery school/crèche and recycling centre.

The Channel is by developers Magellan Properties, and architects Robinson Architects. The project will include over 5.35 hectares. There is also a proposed 67 m tower included in the scheme, with 22 floors primarily for residential use. The £350m scheme has been privately funded and has been identified as one of the four neighbourhoods in the Will Alsop masterplan.

In 2008, local businessman Afzal Kahn was named as being a major investor in the scheme.

The site is to be developed over a 10-year period. The project has met opposition from the Bradford City Council over the height of the scheme, however after a deadlock between planners and the council, an independent enquiry was held by the development group Urbed. A redesign of the project resulted in the proposal of 24 and 16 storey towers, while reducing the overall height for the development's buildings. The new plans have been reviewed by the council recently and given outline planning approval. Consent now has to be confirmed by the Government before the scheme can get underway. It is unknown whether there will be any further public consultation on the scheme or alterations made to the design.