City must be ready to make most of ‘Northshoring’, councillors told

BRADFORD COULD benefit from “Northshoring” as businesses chose to move from London to cheaper Northern cities, councillors have been told.

Northshoring, similar to offshoring, is a phenomena seen in recent years as companies opt to move from the capital and Southern cities to Northern areas where property and labour costs are lower.

The financial fallout of the Covid-19 pandemic could accelerate the process for businesses needing to make budget cuts, a Bradford Council meeting was told.

And the city needed to prepare for this by making sure it has high-quality office space available to compete with other Northern cities.

The issue was discussed at a recent meeting of the council’s Regeneration, Environment and Scrutiny Committee.

Council officials were asked how the pandemic lockdown and need for social distancing would have an impact on ambitious regeneration plans for Bradford city centre.

These plans include One City Park – a £25m, 56,403 sq ft, grade A office development – the new Darley Street Market, Bradford Live music venue and an “urban village” planned for the current Oastler Market site.

Lorraine Wright, principal housing engineer, said: “A vibrant, modern mixed-use urban centre is vital for the success of the city centre. The regeneration of the city centre remains a strategic priority for the council.”

She told members the One City Park office development would provide “much-needed, highquality, flexible, Grade A office space” in the heart of the city.

Mrs Wright said: “There is a lack of Grade A office space within the centre of Bradford. In the commercial sector there has been an increase in Northshoring – where businesses move their work to the North where labour and accommodation tends to be cheaper.

“To benefit from this, Bradford will need a commercial offer and office space that competes with other regional urban centres and meets the aspirations of the business sector.”