Young people in Bradford are being asked about the future of their city in a bid to help frame what it should look like in years to come.
An on-line survey of 15-25 year olds is being conducted over the next three months, asking respondents what they would like to see in the city centre and what would drive more visitors in. The survey has only nine questions so will take just a few minutes to complete
Bradford Property Forum (BPF), a network of property sector professionals, is leading the initiative and the findings will be presented to a meeting of high-level developers, investors, and planners later in the year. Leaders of BPF felt that the time had come to check out the views of the District’s young people, in the hope of influencing how the city will look in the future.
BPF chairman, Paul Mackie of Rex Procter & Partners, explained:
“We’re frequently told that city centre regeneration is paramount to the future success of the whole District – and we wouldn’t disagree with that. We’ve also just seen the city centre put at the heart of the revised economic strategy for Bradford. Forecasters also state that Bradford has one of the country’s fastest-growing young populations. So it seemed right to ask that group what they want their city to look like in the future. Is it just more shops and bars, or is it also other leisure facilities like sports centres? People also have the opportunity to make their own comments as well as being asked specific questions. We hope that the District’s young people will join in this discussion so that the movers and shakers can ensure that local needs are actually being met.”
. Awareness is being raised through social media networks like Facebook and Twitter, while other bodies such as Bradford Students’ Union and the youth parliament have been asked to promote it and take part.
Asked what he thought about the idea, 21-year old Luke Dennison, who works for corporate social responsibility group Be Involved, welcomed the project.
“It’s good that Bradford’s young people are being asked about the city centre. There needs to be more things to do there like there are in places like Leeds, Huddersfield and Wakefield. I’d like to see more shops but also more music venues. I want to know what’s going to happen in the City Park when it’s finished as well. I’ll definitely be completing the survey and I’ll be telling my friends to do it as well. I also think the onus is on the young people of Bradford like me to complete the survey because there are people out there waiting to hear what we want!”
The survey can be found at www.you-decide.co.uk or click the link below.
For more information contact Bradford Property Forum at 01274 230057 or info@bradfordpropertyforum.co.uk
