The Times They Are A-Changin'

Published 24th Feb 2010

The Times They Are A-Changin'

Bradford Kickstart Capital Programme has now approved a capital grant of £990,000 towards the NCA's eco business park project. The NCA need a total of 3.7 million pounds to build the new centre.

This project aims to build an enterprise hub in Eccleshill that will provide a pioneering sustainable building and a sustainable future for Newlands Community Association. The enterprise hub will support local enterprises through office space, managed workspaces, enterprise support and training activities spread across two buildings.

This will be a major focus for business development in an area of longstanding deprivation. NCA will use its assets to benefit the local community which will provide a major stimulus to a disadvantaged area in the key Leeds – Bradford corridor.

Once completed the project will result in dramatically reduced costs for the NCA, therefore enabling the NCA to invest more in the local community and develop upon its work, for example by providing grant support to local organisations, training and enterprise support through working in partnership with Business Link and other agencies. This contributes to District and Regional priorities for the preparation of candidates and entrepreneurs for new high value added jobs and businesses.

“Newlands” is a term given to an area of north Bradford covering Eccleshill, Greengates, Fagley, Ravenscliffe, Thornbury, Bradford Moor and Thorpe Edge, the majority of which are in the 10% most deprived Super Output Areas nationally.

Whilst the NCA has successfully developed revenue generation through letting buildings on land they own, the income from this is insufficient to propel further regeneration works. After reviewing its options, NCA has, assisted by funds from Bradford Kickstart, worked up a scheme that will deliver enhanced regeneration and enterprise provision in the locality.

The Holybrook Centre (a former school built in the 1960s) in which NCA and its tenants are currently based has become a liability with costs for maintenance outstripping its revenue generating potential. This project would solve the problem of a base and would provide a substantial boost to business and the economy of North Bradford.

A previous LEGI Enterprise Hub grant of £65,000 enabled the production of plans that have subsequently been approved by the NCA board and CBMDC planners for the creation a 15,000 sq ft office building and adjacent managed workspaces. The site of this development was previously occupied by Eccleshill Upper School until its demolition in 2000.

The multi-use centre will provide office space, workshops in addition to a café, crèche, meeting and training rooms and a digital media suite. This is a major commitment from the NCA to enterprise. It represents not just an option, but the way forward for the organisation. The NCA has confirmed its commitment to enterprise development and will be required by contract to provide continued enterprise support through this funding and conditions associated with the ERDF funding requested from Yorkshire Forward.