A NEW business park on the site of a former Keighley College annexe could generate 260 jobs.

The project, bringing together two adjoining sites under Bradford Council and private ownership, is expected to be completed within three years.

The council struck a deal with major local company Turner Developments to create the business park on eight acres of land between Dalton Lane and Keighley Fire Station.

In spring this year, news broke of the then hoped-for deal, which was aimed at meeting strong demand for business units in the town.

An update on the project was given to the latest meeting of Bradford Council’s Regeneration and Economy Overview and Scrutiny committee.

Councillors were told that the Harold Town building, for many years the base for Keighley College’s technical subjects, was bought by the council in 2006 and demolished to provide a development site in the Dalton Lane business corridor.

Some of the land was sold to next-door company Teconnex for car parking in 2012, and the company had maintained an interest in developing more of the site as it expanded further.

Meanwhile, local developer Jim Turner bought the neighbouring ‘Worthington’ site, behind Keighley Fire Station, as a new project following his successful multi-million pound business parks on Royd Ings.

A council spokesman said a development agreement had recently been reached with Blue Ice Developments – part of Turner Developments – to develop the two sites as a whole.

This would mean improved access and site layout.

This would mean the scheme could get the best out of the sites for both the resident businesses and people living in nearby houses.

The spokesman said: “This would make the best use of the land in one coherent development block.

“The company has been doing the necessary site works prior to marketing the site to interested parties.

“Land for business development is at a premium in Keighley and Airedale.

“This will not only provide welcome business space, but also further employment close to the town centre, with the benefits this is likely to bring in terms of trips into town for goods and services.”

Because the site was bought with a grant from the now-defunct Yorkshire Forward, the government has a call on any profits generated over the council’s costs.

The Worthington site was until 2011 the home of West Yorkshire Spinners in the now-demolished Chatsworth Works.

Several years ago the previous owners announced plans – later abandoned – to create a £30 million leisure, housing and business complex.

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