THE development of a large Keighley site will provide “much sought after” industrial units in the town, a meeting was told.

Last year it was revealed that land at Beechcliffe, to the west of the A629 near the Hard Ings roundabout, had been lined up for a 150,000sqft industrial park.

The Bradford Council-owned plot has been earmarked for employment use since the 1990s, and the site’s redevelopment will be awarded £6 million through the Government’s Towns Fund.

Members of Bradford Council were given an update on the plans at a meeting of the regeneration and environment scrutiny committee.

The report said the Beechcliffe scheme would allow for the “redevelopment of the eight-acre brownfield site, to create a platform for the delivery of industrial units”.

Balfour Beatty has been appointed contractor for the scheme and has started feasibility work on the site.

This phase, which is due to last a few weeks, involves undertaking a full site survey with investigation works, which will mean the temporary closure of a footpath and cycle route which runs through the area.

The second phase will involve undertaking a full programme of work to remediate the site and deliver plots for development, as well as constructing an access road and upgrading the existing footpath and cycle route which links Royd Ings with Utley.

At the committee meeting, members were told that the site had been earmarked for development for years.

Michelle Rushworth, from Keighley Towns Fund, said: “It doesn’t look much like a brownfield site now as nature has taken over across the years.

“This will be a platform to provide more industrial units in the town – something which is very much sought after in Keighley.”

Councillors asked why Keighley had received £33m through the Towns Fund, while Shipley was awarded £25m.

Councillor Alex Ross-Shaw, executive member for regeneration, planning and transport on Bradford Council, said the £25m was the basic amount awarded to successful Towns Fund bids.

He said Keighley was able to leverage more funding due to its “strong manufacturing heritage” that made it an area of “regional significance”.

Liz Barker, acting chair of Keighley Towns Fund, said: “This £6 million allocation is a very specific fund targeting the redevelopment of identified brownfield sites, taking the pressure off greenfield land.

“The aim is to increase the supply of business accommodation in Keighley, which will bring a significant economic boost for the area.”