The Bradford Soup Run, which has fed Bradford’s homeless for 34 years, is to get a new base just 100 yards from its current site in Portland Street, off Nelson Street.

Director of The Bradford Soup Run, John Tempest said: Negotiating with Bradford Council took longer than we all would have wished – about two and a half years – first, they were going to build a swimming pool on the site we currently inhabit; then, after 18 months, and after those plans fell through, they earmarked our site for a college. So it was with a certain amount of trepidation that we embarked on further meetings.

Naturally, we needed to ensure our work with Bradford’s most vulnerable can continue and that we would have premises ‘fit for purpose’ which we are now confident they will be.

Fortunately, our misgivings were unfounded and it will be ‘full steam ahead’ to complete our new building before the bad weather comes.

Thanks must go to the council officers concerned, who recognised the need for a speedy solution;  and our architect, Jeff Redmile who has held our hands throughout this process and will be overseeing the work. There is much to do, but, in Soup Run tradition, we are confident we can get it done.