The planned leisure centre at Squire Lane, Girlington — a scheme first approved in 2019 and backed by a substantial government grant — has been abandoned by Bradford Council, prompting local residents to warn the move will hit children and families hardest.
Council cites cost pressures
Council leaders, now under Reform UK control, said the development no longer delivered acceptable value amid the authority’s challenging financial position. The project had a headline budget of £32.9m, of which a £20m government grant would have covered the majority. The council had already allocated £7.9m and councillors would have been asked to agree an additional £5m in capital funding to complete the scheme.
Local response: concerns for children and community
People living close to the site told reporters they felt deprived by the decision. Many argued the leisure centre would have provided safe spaces and activities for young people in an area they say has limited amenities.
"That could have really benefited our children, and now they're not going ahead with it," said one resident, adding: "It's quite sad actually".
Another local expressed frustration that investment appears to be happening elsewhere while Bradford misses out on similar developments.
- Project first approved: 2019
- People within 1.5 miles who would have been served: more than 87,000
- Funding breakdown: £20m government grant; £7.9m already allocated; £5m extra sought
What the council is doing to balance the books
As part of wider measures to address budget pressures, leaders have announced plans that include the sale of publicly owned land and buildings. The authority says these steps are necessary to stabilise finances, and maintained the Squire Lane scheme no longer represented good value for money.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Government grant | £20m |
| Already allocated by council | £7.9m |
| Additional capital sought | £5m |
| Total project cost | £32.9m |
Residents said the site is currently closed off and that without the new facility there is a risk young people will have fewer structured activities and more time “on the streets”. Campaigners and community groups will now want clarity from the council about alternative plans to provide leisure and youth services in Girlington and surrounding areas.
For parents and local organisations seeking immediate options, community centres, schools and voluntary groups currently provide some activities, but campaigners say these are not a substitute for a modern leisure complex capable of serving tens of thousands of nearby residents.
The decision adds to a series of difficult choices facing Bradford’s administration as it seeks to reconcile ambitions for local investment with strict fiscal constraints. Local councillors and campaigners are expected to press the council for more detail on how lost facilities will be replaced and how the most vulnerable young people will be supported in the absence of the new centre.
