Bradford's Norfolk Gardens Park Opens After £45M Revamp

Norfolk Gardens, a newly expanded city centre park next to Bradford City Hall, has opened to the public following the completion of construction and landscaping. The park was developed over the pedestrianised Hall Ings as part of the final phase of a £45 million infrastructure project funded by the Transforming Cities Fund, aiming to revitalize Bradford’s urban space. Covering 10,000 square meters, the park features green spaces, flower beds, new seating, and cycle lanes, with over 7,700 plants and shrubs of 173 species—including 57 trees such as birch, rowan, maple, lime, Juneberry, and cherry trees for a boulevard effect—planted to boost local biodiversity. Notable additions include stepping stones marking the historic Bowling Beck watercourse beneath the garden and a blossoming display of trees. Work is still ongoing on a nearby 'parklet' and the installation of a temporary sculpture, the Tower of Now, on a former car park site. The pedestrianised spaces adjacent to the park have already hosted public events, adding vibrancy to the area.