The Severfield Rowen firm will start site preparation works this week on the £260m scheme.

The firm will be erecting 6,600 tonnes of structural steel on the job which stalled back in 2008 but will now create 1,500 construction jobs and open for Christmas 2015.

The 570,000 sq ft shopping centre will feature a 106,000 sq ft Debenhams department store and a 63,000 sq ft Marks & Spencer as anchor retailers, along with 70 additional shops, restaurants and cafes, including major high street retailers Next, River Island, Topshop, Topman and Sainsbury’s.

Keith Whitmore, Westfield’s Head of Design and Construction said: “Appointing a steelwork contractor is a significant step on the road towards completing the Broadway centre.

“I’m especially pleased that we were able to appoint a Yorkshire-based company to do this work, reaffirming our commitment to the local area, and to the county more widely.

“I look forward to seeing Severfield-Watson Structures make good progress on the steelwork in the coming weeks, and the centre beginning to take shape.”

Cllr David Green, Leader of Bradford Council, said: “Steelwork going up is one of the most visible signs to date of the progress that is being made on The Broadway centre.

“It’ll be fantastic for Bradford residents to see the project gather momentum in the coming months.”