A new campaign will help promote an historic area of Bradford city centre that has “lost a bit of its soul.”
Little Germany was once a thriving hub of Bradford’s wool industry – filled with grand warehouses and headquarters for successful Victorian companies.
While most of the grand buildings remain – the area is home to 55 listed properties, many businesses have moved out, with many of the Victorian buildings being converted into flats.
Now a team has been set up to encourage more businesses, visitors and investment into the area.
Heritage trails, film tours, regular cultural events and the roll out of a series of blue plaques will all be used to promote the area.
A new website has been launched to highlight the area, its history and buildings, and new Little Germany branding has been produced to be used on signs and promotional material.
And two empty buildings on Chapel Street will be brought back into public use in the coming years.
The campaign has the motto “This is the story of Bradford in stone.”
The team behind the new campaign is led by Peckover Street based Impact Hub Bradford, and has been funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
There was a launch event for the new campaign at Impact Hub on Thursday.
At the event, James Mason, Chair of the Little Germany Steering Group, said: “Little Germany might have lost a bit of its soul over the years.
“Depending on which time of year you come you will see the area in a different light – quite literally.
“If this was anywhere else in the world it would be revered, promoted and celebrated.
“This is what the Council and public sector colleagues have come together to do – to try and bring Little Germany back to life.”
He said the push coincided with “palpable momentum” to improve Bradford, spurred on by the recent promotion of Bradford’s City of Culture year and promotion of Bradford City.
He said: “People in Bradford don’t often shout about the city’s successes. It is not that they hide their light under a bushel, it is they hide that bushel under another bushel.
“It is time we celebrate Little Germany as an important part of Bradford’s regeneration.”
Kamran Rashid, who founded Impact Hub Bradford, said the success of the venture showed that Little Germany was a good base for business and creative groups.
Impact Hub has plans to expand into 30 Chapel Street – a long derelict building that would officer much more space.
Last year a planning application to convert the building into office and co-working spaces, complete with café, workshops and a conference space, was approved by Bradford Council.
He pointed out that Little Germany was built by European immigrants, adding: “Bradford is seen as a city of immigrants, and many say that in a negative way. But if you look at history, Germany migrants came and built this area and helped Bradford become the great city it became.”
Si Cunningham, Chair of Bradford Civic Society, said there was “a lot of optimism” around Bradford. But promoting the city could be “exhausting and character building.”
He added: “A lot of people don’t want to give up on Bradford because there are so many opportunities.”
The Civic Society recently carried out a survey of Bradford residents on their views of Little Germany. It found that 62 per cent of respondents hadn’t visited the area in the past year, and that 41 per cent said they would feel “very unsafe” in Little Germany.
Mr Cunningham said: “It is not an unsafe place – there is not a lot of crime that happens here. But it is a quiet place, and that can be quite unsettling for people.”
The survey found the majority of people would like to see more cafes and bars in Little Germany.
He said there were plans to refurbish existing historic plaques in the area, as well as rolling out new blue plaques marking the area’s history, such as the foundation of the Independent Labour Party in 1893. There would also be a number of heritage days.
David West, the former Director of Little Germany Action, said: “It is a stunning place, but it could be so much better.”
Those attending the launch event were told that work was also underway to bring another vacant building, the former Bradford Resource Centre on Chapel Street, back into use.
The Bradford People’s Property Portfolio are looking to convert the building to a creative, heritage and community space.
To visit the new website visit www.littlegermany.uk/
By: Chris Young, LDRS
