Southern
Gateway
The Southern Gateway is ready to drive the next chapter of Bradford’s growth – especially for the communities that surround it. It is one of seven major “game changers” in Bradford’s 2035 Regeneration and Growth Plan, a coordinated programme of investment designed to accelerate delivery, unlock opportunity, and transform the District at scale.
With a planned £4.5bn in transport investment, including a new city centre rail station and the Mass Transit line, real change is on the way.
The Southern Gateway will open up space for new homes, local businesses, community facilities and green spaces, creating the conditions for growth where it’s needed most.
What is the southern gateway?
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Where is it?
The Southern Gateway is a 126ha regeneration site located to the south of Bradford city centre.
Following successive UK Government commitments, including confirmation in January 2026 that Bradford will be a central hub of the £45bn Northern Powerhouse Rail programme, Southern Gateway is now one of the UK’s biggest opportunity areas and a central part of Bradford’s long-term Regeneration and Growth Plan.
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What will it deliver?
The regeneration of the Southern Gateway will create the infrastructure that modern businesses demand, while unlocking land for thousands of new homes, offices, and vibrant retail and leisure spaces. This is a bold vision for growth, rooted in place and powered by connectivity.
The Southern Gateway is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to drive Bradford’s economic transformation.
At its core are two landmark transport investments:
• A new city centre rail station as part of the Bradford Rail Programme
• The Bradford to Leeds tram scheme through West Yorkshire Mass Transit
These projects will vastly improve regional connectivity, strengthening supply chains, boosting productivity, and attracting private investment.
As part of Bradford’s wider growth strategy, the Southern Gateway will help deliver on the District’s core priorities, supporting people into opportunity, strengthening productivity, and creating high-quality places where communities and businesses can thrive.
By laying the foundations for future growth, they will help Bradford compete and thrive in a fast-changing, high-performing economy.
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What does this mean for Bradford?
Better rail infrastructure brings people together connecting cities, communities, and opportunities. Shorter journeys mean faster growth, stronger relationships, and a more vibrant cultural and economic future for the North.
Improved transport links will increase mobility, and open new doors, especially for young people entering the workforce. This regeneration will empower a new generation, helping to build stronger, more resilient communities within and around the city centre.
The Southern Gateway is a rare opportunity to shape a future that works for everyone, by building new inner-city communities, creating inclusive spaces, and delivering the conditions for long-term progress in both social and economic terms.
Big space, right place
The Southern Gateway is one of the UK’s most significant regeneration opportunities — a major initiative being unlocked by investment in rail and trams. Located just south of Bradford city centre, this triangular area, currently dominated by industrial uses, is set to undergo a transformation that will reshape the future of the city.
This ambitious regeneration will not only modernise infrastructure but also pave the way for the creation of vibrant new inner-city communities. By consolidating existing uses and reimagining underutilised land, the Southern Gateway will support the delivery of high-quality homes, accessible green spaces, and sustainable transport connections.
As a driver for growth, this area will also provide vital employment space on the edge of the city centre, helping Bradford attract new businesses, boost productivity, and retain talent. The Southern Gateway represents a bold step toward a more inclusive and connected future for Bradford.
If I could write to the little girl who grew up to be my mum…
I’d tell her one thing…to dream.
“
Noor, Bradford
Listen to a poem about opportunity for young people
A better future
The Southern Gateway is all about creating spaces in Bradford where our young population can live, learn, and work.
With new businesses, social spots, and public areas planned, it’s set to bring plenty of job opportunities and places to build skills.
It’s a space designed for the future, helping the next generation thrive and making the city a place where they can really make their mark.
Backed by Bradford’s investment in skills and training, it will connect local people to new opportunities and support the workforce needed for future industries.
Join the growing movement backing the Bradford Rail Programme. Whether you're a local resident, business owner, educator, or simply believe in a better-connected North — we want to hear from you.
Help us send a clear message: Bradford needs the right station, in the right place, with the right connections.
Build the station. Back the North.
Join our campaign for better rail
Unlocking Bradford’s Economic Potential
Bradford is one of the UK’s youngest cities, with huge untapped potential to drive regional and national growth. The Bradford Rail Programme will be a game-changer, improving connectivity, creating jobs, and opening up new opportunities for businesses. With a new rail station, Bradford will have better access to supply chains, a larger labour force, and a more connected economy. It will also support the growth of Bradford’s key sectors, from advanced manufacturing to digital and professional services creating the conditions for higher productivity and long-term economic success.
The Government’s Industrial Strategy highlights the need for high-quality tansport to drive growth. By connecting West Yorkshire and Manchester, this new rail infrastructure will boost tourism, attract investment, and strengthen Bradford’s role as a key link between the North and the rest of the UK.
The Southern Gateway regeneration site will contribute:
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5,000 new homes
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23,000 jobs
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£1.12bn annual GVA uplift
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440,000 sqm of new office space
Partnering for Progress
The Southern Gateway is being shaped with the support of world-class expertise. Initially developed in partnership with WSP, a detailed masterplan has now been progressed by Arup, working closely with the Council to map out the full scale of opportunity and the enabling infrastructure required to bring it forward. Their work ensures the vision for the Southern Gateway is not only ambitious, but grounded in a clear and deliverable route to transformation.
