City centre's pedestrianisation nets another award

The pedestrianisation of Bradford city centre has won another national award.

The work, completed last year, has seen traffic removed from city centre streets including Hall Ings, Market Street and Bridge Street, with green spaces installed.

The latest recognition came in the infrastructure category at the 2026 Pineapples awards, which celebrate projects that "excel in design quality while delivering meaningful environmental and social impact".

The judges said the scheme "went beyond active travel to really making a positive social impact", adding: "It has catalysed further investment around it, which is the definition of good infrastructure."

Bradford's City Centre Walking and Cycling Improvement Scheme beat off competition from projects in Leeds and London to win the award.

It previously won a national award for its biodiversity and public health benefits, while also being named "national infrastructure project of the year" by a construction membership organisation.

A Bradford Council spokesperson said: "With large areas of pedestrianisation reclaiming the streets for people, and the creation of a large new park area, the city centre is now a cleaner and greener place for people to spend time."

While footfall in the centre of Bradford was impacted by roadworks to pedestrianise parts of the city centre, and the unexpected closure of the bus station, it recovered by 25% in the first quarter of 2025 compared to 2024.

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