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Ray Withers, Chief Executive of multi award-winning property investment agency, Property Frontiers, shares his reasons behind launching an exclusive new buy-to-let opportunity in Bradford.
 
Development of a new Westfield retail centre in the heart of the city is set to enhance the area's popularity as a shopping destination. The city serves a catchment population of 919,391 with a weighted annual spend potential of £623 million, forecast to grow by more than an additional £250 million on completion of the Broadway development. The 555,000 sq ft retail outlet will host 70+ units, including Marks & Spencer, Debenhams and Next.
 
Furthermore, £1.5 billion is being invested in Bradford's regeneration, with government and the private sector joining forces in the Masterplan project. The city centre is set for an extensive makeover, with new public spaces, water features, improved transport links and restored historic architecture. Luxury city living apartments such as the new Aspire Citygate available exclusively through Property Frontiers are in development to meet the growing demand from people and businesses relocating to the area. A £35 million City Centre Growth Zone is also underway, designed to attract more business, expansion and investment in the area.
 
Bradford offers a good, yet affordable standard of living and its migrating population has made the city one of the UK's top residential property hotspots for 2014. Residents are attracted by Bradford's cosmopolitan living, coupled with its location in the beautiful Yorkshire countryside. House prices in Bradford are, on average, one third less than London and half the price of the south east. However, the growing demand in the area is pushing up prices in the property market, making it an excellent location for capital growth investments.
D is for digital 
 
Bradford's Airedale Digital Corridor is home to a number of major digital, electronic and creative companies including Pace, Echostar Europe, Radio Design, Teledyne Defence and Bradford Technonogy Ltd. Bradford is also home to the National Media Museum and the world's first UNESCO City of Film.
 
Digital connections are also set to speed up, as a £21.96 million contract between four West Yorkshire local authorities and BT has been agreed. The Superfast West Yorkshire project plans to extend high-speed fibre broadband to 97% of households and businesses across West Yorkshire by autumn 2015.
  
Another reason for Bradford's popularity is excellent national and international travel connections. The Leeds Bradford International Airport (LBIA) is just 6 miles from the city centre and has thrice daily flights to Heathrow for London links. The airport underwent a major expansion in 2012 to include an exclusive business zone lounge to meet demand. The area is served by road links via the M1, M62 and A1 (M) motorways; with train links enabling travel to Leeds in 20 minutes, with London two hours by train and Manchester within the hour.
  
With a variety of key business sectors, Bradford offers great opportunities for employment as well as business. The city is home to the renowned University School of Management and a number of corporate HQs, including Morrisons, Yorkshire Building Society, Santander and Hallmark Cards.
 
Bradford's financial and business services generate over £13 billion pa, projected to grow circa 50% by 2022. There are over 250,000 people employed in the sector, with major employers including Provident Financial, Santander, Yorkshire Building Society, Congregational & General and Gordons LLP.
 
The city has the largest UK employment base in engineering and manufacturing, with 160,000 jobs in textiles, electronics, printing, medical equipment, automotive engineering, aerospace and energy components. A survey conducted by the Times Higher Education Authority revealed Bradford's graduate employment was second only to Cambridge.
 
A vibrant city with ambitious development plans, Bradford has the third largest economy in the Yorkshire and Humber region at £8.3 billion per year and this is projected to grow to more than £9.6 billion by 2016. Bradford is the fifth fastest growing area outside of London.
 
With a population over 524,000, Bradford is the fourth largest metropolitan district in England. Residents are attracted by Bradford's cosmopolitan living and Victorian architecture, coupled with its location in the beautiful Yorkshire countryside. It is a culturally diverse city, with a flourishing arts scene, museums, galleries, traditional pubs serving locally brewed ale and Michelin star restaurants. Bradford was named England's Curry Capital in 2011, 2012 and 2013.
 
Ray Withers concludes: "As we see property prices in London even out, it is to the regions where both capital growth and significant rental income can still be achieved that savvy investors are heading in 2014. The new Aspire Citygate development, a collection of modern 1 and 2 bedroom luxury apartments available off-plan from as little as £50,000, presents one of the most attractive buy-to-let opportunities I have seen for a long time. With the below market value pricing delivering instant equity and a 9% Return on Capital available, this is one angel investment of the north not to be missed!"
 

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