Development Framework for Bingley

The role of the Development Framework is to act as a guide for development within Bingley, as well as encourage and attract new investment into the area. It provides clear principles which promote social, economic and environmental benefits which are informed by Bingley's local context and are underpinned by the strategic and policy context both nationally and locally.  

The proposed interventions as set out within the Draft Development Framework are indicative only. There is no funding commitment at this stage to deliver the vision. If the proposals are supported by stakeholders, a more detailed delivery plan would be considered as funding opportunities arise.

Vision: ‘Bingley – a sustainable, revitalised heart’ 

Bingley will achieve its full potential as a thriving and sustainable market town, with a revitalised Market Square and public realm.  A more diverse and high-quality residential offer will be encouraged to bring new residents into the town, attracted to the amenity and independents that line Bingley’s high street.  Bingley will have an improved leisure offer, with the re-opening of Bingley swimming pool alongside a boutique hotel which will repurpose Bingley’s Grade II listed Town Hall, supporting Bingley’s visitor economy.  Alongside this, Bingley’s attractions will be better connected – by facilitating more walking and cycling routes linking together Bingley’s Five Rise Locks, Myrtle Park, the River Aire and Betty’s Wood.

Bingley’s draft vision is underpinned by a series of strategic objectives:

• A sustainable, family-friendly town – Building on its existing character and quality offer, promoting Bingley as a well-connected and asset rich town, suitable for young professionals and families, including a good mix of employment and residential opportunities.
• Ensuring high-quality and efficiency in design – Repurposing of existing assets and brownfield sites to achieve appropriate densities that take full advantage of Bingley’s excellent transport connectivity, ensuring efficient use of land and quality place-making, particularly at key gateways.
• Enriching Bingley’s heart – enhancing Bingley’s town centre and square to create a flexible events space for key activities, encouraging ‘café culture’, and making the most of the existing Food & Beverage offer.  
• A green and healthy environment –Low carbon to be embedded into new development, to align with Bradford’s Clean Growth agenda, promoting sustainable travel solutions and improving access to Bingley’s countryside, such as St Ives, the River Aire and Five-rise Locks.  
• A ‘health-focused’ destination hub – Promoting Bingley’s accessibility to key green and blue assets and exploiting its potential as a destination for music festivals and walking, and potential for a future town ‘spa’.  

The proposed interventions as set out are indicative only. There is no funding commitment at this stage to deliver the vision. If the proposals are supported by stakeholders, a more detailed delivery plan would be considered as funding opportunities arise.

Two Character Areas have been defined for Bingley which recognise the existing qualities and character within each area as well as the character and type of uses that could be provided as part of the future vision for Bingley. 

• Character area 1: Town centre and River Aire
• Character area 2: Canalside Industrial Heritage and Mixed-use

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There is an ambition to diversify the town centre offer, through the redevelopment of civic uses in the town centre to create a broader leisure offer and drive footfall – a key element is to make more of the heritage assets and open spaces.  

This high-quality amenity will help to attract new visitors into Bingley as well as support existing and attract new residential communities.  The provision of more town centre living is also a key opportunity – helping to diversify the demographic, attracting young professionals and families into Bingley and the wider locality.    

 Potential interventions could therefore include: 

• Main Street - Reprioritisation of Main Street to reduce vehicular dominance and create a more attractive environment for pedestrians and cyclists.  
• Bingley Railway Station –Relocation of car parking to provide improved public realm within the station forecourt and a new business/retail space in a central location, plus improved active travel connections into the town centre, to create a more welcoming arrival to the town. 
• Introduction of Leisure Uses – Change of use from town hall to hotel to showcase an attractive heritage asset and provide a place for tourists visiting nearby attractions to stay and visit Bingley. This will include improvements to the Bingley Swimming Pool so that it can be re-opened and to reintroduce leisure uses into the town centre. 
• Bingley Town Square – Reconfiguration of the town square to provide improved green/ public space within the heart of the town centre. 
• Residential Uses – Provision of new residential uses along Main Street and to the rear of Bingley Little Theatre, to increase footfall into the town centre, benefitting from the Riverside setting.  
• New Active Travel Route - Introduction of new active travel circuit along the River Aire and Leeds-Liverpool Canal to create an attractive route for active travel uses to showcase the heritage and landscape assets of Bingley.

The proposed interventions as set out are indicative only. There is no funding commitment at this stage to deliver the vision. If the proposals are supported by stakeholders, a more detailed delivery plan would be considered as funding opportunities arise.

Building on the successful conversion of a number of former industrial mills along the Leeds-Liverpool canal in the early 2000’s, this area provides an opportunity to create a thriving residential-led mixed use area, showcasing Bingley’s industrial heritage and links to blue infrastructure. 

The proposed interventions in the Character Area include: 

• Mixed use development – Potential to create additional uses within the Damart site to create a new canalside mixed use development, including some residential.
• Residential uses – Relocation of existing industrial uses on Whitley Street, encouraging change of use to create attractive canalside residential-led developments.  
• New Active Travel Route - Introduction of new active travel circuit along the Leeds-Liverpool Canal to create an attractive route for walking and cycling.  This will showcase the heritage and landscape assets of Bingley and improve active travel connections for adjacent residential communities into the town centre. 

The proposed interventions as set out are indicative only. There is no funding commitment at this stage to deliver the vision. If the proposals are supported by stakeholders, a more detailed delivery plan would be considered as funding opportunities arise.

The full Draft Development Framework is available to download if you wish to review it in more detail.

For those large organisations and statutory consultees that may wish to write to us with feedback, please email growth@bradford.gov.uk