City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council
Shopfronts and shutters in Bradford
Bradford adopted a new Shopfront Design Guide in March 2026: solid shutters will not be supported, perforated ones are strongly discouraged, and any external security needs a Crime Impact Statement.
- Planning authority
- City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council
- Planning system
- England
- Main document
- Adopted 5 March 2026
- Status
- Adopted supplementary planning document
- Main retail streets
- Darley Street, Broadway Bradford, Kirkgate
- Our repairs
- Installation work only
Bradford adopted its Shopfront Design Guide SPD on 5 March 2026, and on the same day revoked the 2007 shopfront guide and the 2012 shopkeepers’ security guide. Anything you read about Bradford written before March 2026 may describe documents that no longer count.
The new guide names the places where external security is generally unlikely to be suitable: Bradford city centre, the town centres of Keighley, Ilkley, Bingley and Shipley, conservation areas and listed buildings.
Shutters and security
- Internal lattice or brick-bond grilles
- External open-design shutters covering vulnerable areas only, where justified
The council’s preferred approach is internal grilles; internal lattice or brick-bond grilles are named as the sensitive option.
Bradford Shopfront Design Guide SPD, section 8Solid, bare metal shutters will not be supported. Perforated or pinhole shutters are strongly discouraged because they look almost solid.
Bradford Shopfront Design Guide SPD, section 8Every application for external security — including a replacement roller shutter — needs a Crime Impact Statement.
Bradford Shopfront Design Guide SPD, section 8In the named centres, conservation areas and on listed buildings, external security must be backed by clear evidence of crime risk and agreed jointly by the police Designing Out Crime Officer and the planning officer.
Bradford Shopfront Design Guide SPD, section 8Shutters should usually cover only the vulnerable parts — door or glazing — and bare steel is very unlikely to be acceptable; colour-matched powder-coated aluminium is better.
Bradford Shopfront Design Guide SPD, section 8
Sources
- Bradford Shopfront Design Guide SPDAdopted 5 March 2026 · Adopted supplementary planning document · read on 9 October 2026
- Shopfront Design Guide SPD — adoption and revocation notices5 March 2026 · Council guidance · read on 9 October 2026
Policies change. Before you order anything, confirm with City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council — a pre-application enquiry gets you a written view on your drawings.