MONEY has been earmarked to build a bridge across the Leeds-Liverpool canal in Skipton to enable a potential 300 new homes to be constructed.

The £850,000 cash windfall into Craven District Council coffers is from the Local Growth Fund and has been approved by the West Yorkshire Combined Authority’s investment committee.

It will be used to build a new bridge to span the canal to reach the site at Horse Close, where there is potential to construct 300 homes and develop businesses.

At present access to the site, off Keighley Road, is by a narrow hump-backed bridge.

The hand-out is a slice of a £14 million funding package for new housing and regeneration sites across the Leeds City Region.

Cllr Richard Foster, leader of Craven District Council, said: “This funding gives the council the opportunity to facilitate the construction of a new bridge at Horse Close.

“A new bridge would improve access for existing homes in the area as well as providing the necessary infrastructure for the potential development of a large housing site in Skipton.”