Talking All Night

Published 3rd Nov 2010

Talking All Night

Civic heads and business leaders have been briefed about the development of Europe’s largest straw bale community centre which is built in Bradford.

Officials at Newlands Community Association updated 150 people about plans for the £4 million enterprise centre being developed at Eccleshill.

It is being built on a brownfield site and will replace Newlands’ previous base in a 1950s school building The project is being funded by £1 million from the European Regional Development Fund, £1 million from the Communitybuilders fund and £990,000 from Bradford Council’s Government-funded Local Enterprise Growth Initiative in addition to a £1 million mortgage from the Charity Bank.

Work is scheduled to start in January to develop a two- storey 15,000sq ft enterprise centre and building incorporating 14 units of workspace with flexible leases.

Both buildings, which will be constructed from bales of straw, are scheduled to open towards the end of next year.