Prince Richard, the Duke of Gloucester, officially marked the start on site for the new Standard Health Hospital in Bradford, by unveiling the foundation stone for the development, which will form part of the city’s new Southern Gateway.

The former Kingfisher House property, which is part of Jinnah Business Park and owned by established Bradford businessman Saleem Akhtar, will be transformed into a modern orthopaedic centre, providing much needed healthcare infrastructure in the city.

Jinnah Business Park was opened in 2023 following an investment of £5m, which has seen the development of 17 new enterprise units that has resulted in many new businesses being created.

The site, just off Wakefield Road, falls within the Bradford Southern Gateway – an area earmarked for major transformative regeneration.

The ‘Southern Gateway’ regeneration plan includes a proposed new £2 billion rail station that would connect Bradford to Leeds in just 12 minutes and Manchester in under half an hour. It would create a thriving hub with new homes, offices, retail, and leisure spaces.

During the special ceremony, the Duke spoke with key partners on the project, including local MP Imran Hussain and Council Leader Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe about the strategic importance of the Southern Gateway as one of the most significant regeneration projects in the country.

Saleem Akhtar the owner of the Jinnah Business Park and founder of the Jinnah Group said: “It was a pleasure to welcome His Royal Highness to Bradford and have the opportunity to explain our plans in more detail. As a former architect, he was particularly interested in the building and construction methods we plan to use.”

The Standard Health flagship hospital represents an important moment for the Southern Gateway and our city and will act as a catalyst for other developments. Bringing investment into the area and transforming land at this location is a mark of confidence in the Southern Gateway, as Bradford looks forward to significant regeneration over the coming years.”

Dr Gorav Datta, of Standard Health, said: “Our new state of the art hospital will mean a considerable investment into the healthcare sector in the city, and include innovations in orthopaedic surgery such as robotics, an imaging suite, and in-patient facilities to allow seamless patient pathways from admission to rehabilitation.”

Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe, Leader of Bradford Council said: “It’s welcome to see the private sector investing in the city at a time when we are progressing, at pace, our plans for the Southern Gateway regeneration area.  

It’s about growth and, importantly jobs which are being created by a successful local developer bringing in additional investment. We anticipate further such investment will follow in what will be a key zone of regeneration for Bradford.”

The site preparation works will be managed Fox Developments Ltd, with construction now underway and programmed to conclude in around 12 months’ time.