G&H Building Services starts at Darley Street Market delivering one of Bradford’s biggest regeneration projects
G&H Building Services has started on-site delivering part of one of Bradford’s largest regeneration schemes.
The Darley Street Market project will remodel the city’s core shopping area by creating a new modern market that will replace its two existing markets and breathing new life into Darley Street which historically was the city centre’s main shopping destination.
G&H Building Services was appointed by Kier to deliver mechanical, electrical and public health (MEP) works.
Darley Street Market is being built on the site of the former Marks & Spencer store after it moved to the nearby Broadway Shopping Centre in 2015.
Once completed, the market will see a wide selection of independent traders offering shopping, socialising areas and cultural attractions.
Retail will be provided over three floors; one will be dedicated to fresh food, another to non-food related retail and the top floor acting as a hot food and beverage court with indoor and terrace seating for 500 customers and a stage for day-time and evening entertainment.
As part of the £23 million development for Bradford Council, an outdoor City Square will also be created to host music, arts, entertainment, events and pop-ups with seating for over 65 people along with a large outdoor screen.
Outdoor trading will be offered too with eight large stylish umbrellas offering weather protection for traders and customers.
G&H Building Services’ electrically work will include feature LED lighting with specialist controls to create specific scenes for day and night time events all while maximising energy savings.
General power, life safety systems, fire and intruder alarms, CCTV, data and lightning protection will also be included.
Mechanically, domestic hot water will be fitted along with air conditioning, air handling units, a dry riser, gas supplies, car park ventilation, drainage and low temperature hot water heating.
There are a host of eco technologies G&H Building Services will install including a rainwater harvesting system with a 9,000-litre reusable flood protection tank, air source heat pumps and a 194-panel solar PV array.
Heat recovery ventilation, electrical smart meter connections to Bradford Council’s energy contract and rapid charger electric vehicle points will also be built in to boost the scheme’s green credentials.
Senior Contracts Manager at G&H Building Services, David Wilson, said: “Darley Street Market will be a state-of-the-art venue that will transform the ‘top of town’ area and at 4,000 square metres – a third of the size of Trafalgar Square – it will have great presence.
“The MEP services are heavily focused on making the scheme as environmentally-friendly as possible making it ecologically and financially sustainable.
“Another key focus of our work is social value with our local apprentices being used on the project and given work placements to support Kier’s approach so immediate communities benefit wherever possible.
“We have also delivered workshops at Leeds City College of Building for plumbing and electrical students relating to the Darley Street Markets scheme.”
The project is due to be completed later this year with the market anticipated to open in Spring 2024.
