"Keighley shopping centre delay is not a cause of concern" (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)
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"Keighley shopping centre delay is not a cause of concern"
12:00am Thursday 10th January 2013 in News By David Knights
Sam Bailey of Bingley Demolition at the site off Gresley Road being cleared for the Worth Valley shopping centre development
Building work on a planned £30 million Worth Valley Shopping Centre in Keighley has been put back by six months.
But the delay in starting construction of the East Parade complex is no cause for concern, say leading politicians.
The leaders of Bradford Council’s Labour and Conservative groups say they understand the delay was unavoidable.
Property developers Stainsby Grange said it had taken longer than anticipated to complete purchases of all existing buildings on the five-acre site.
The last companies on the land – bordered by East Parade, Gresley Road, Coney Lane and the River Worth – moved out last November.
Spokesman David Williams said: “Demolition is taking longer than we thought because some of it is a bit more intricate. It’s a rolling programme that will take us to the end of March.”
Mr Williams said construction work would “more than likely” begin this autumn, with the 145,000 sq ft shopping centre opening in spring 2015.
He said negotiations were ongoing with major retailers to take up some of the 14 units in the complex.
Mr Williams said: “We’re in discussions with various tenants. I can’t release other details, they’re all tied into confidentiality agreements.”
Labour Councillor Dave Green, leader of Bradford Council, said the delay was clearly caused by technical issues.
He said: “We have no concerns, though potentially the scheme’s a bit later than the developers or the people of Keighley would want.”
Conservative opposition leader Glen Miller said Stainsby Grange had carried out most of the demolition ahead of schedule and were employing local contractors.
He added: “I’ve no cause for concern and they will start within the six months. They have every commitment to the site. They’ve invested quite a lot of money already.” Stainsby Grange has worked on the the project for eight years, gradually buying nine separate properties to create space for the shopping centre and a 350-space car park.
The company says the centre will create 600 jobs and attract big-name retail companies to Keighley. Multiplex giant Cineworld will run the centre’s eight-screen cinema.
Comments(13)
tyker2
says...
4:14am Thu 10 Jan 13
Albion.
says...
6:21am Thu 10 Jan 13
tyker2 wrote:No.
sounds very similar to Westfield:excuse after excuse. Will we be reading this story in eight or ten years time?
RollandSmoke
says...
7:26am Thu 10 Jan 13
Albion. wrote:When your economy relies on retail and service industries it helps if the people have money to spend after their bills are paid. The story of benefit claimants getting a higher % pay rise than workers exposes the fact that wages are being driven down as the benefit rises were merely in line with inflation. Until such a time as employers offer jobs with living wages the retail/service sectors will decline due to people on the minimum being unable to do anything other than window shop. Unless some other industry can be attracted to the region we are doomed although as the industries we have attracted are the gambling and legal loan sharking ones it may already be too late.
tyker2 wrote:No.
sounds very similar to Westfield:excuse after excuse. Will we be reading this story in eight or ten years time?
Joedavid
says...
8:01am Thu 10 Jan 13
JAtkinson
says...
8:25am Thu 10 Jan 13
Follow @BDQTMod on Twitter for more details.
http://jatkinson1977
.wordpress.com/2012/
12/26/bradford-quest
ion-time-bdqt/
Mr Bradford
says...
8:30am Thu 10 Jan 13
modman61
says...
10:17am Thu 10 Jan 13
Albion.
says...
11:16am Thu 10 Jan 13
RollandSmoke wrote:As you choose to not work (the very word sends you running for the lavatory/St Johns Wort/cannabis) it wouldn't seem to be any of your business.
Albion. wrote:When your economy relies on retail and service industries it helps if the people have money to spend after their bills are paid. The story of benefit claimants getting a higher % pay rise than workers exposes the fact that wages are being driven down as the benefit rises were merely in line with inflation. Until such a time as employers offer jobs with living wages the retail/service sectors will decline due to people on the minimum being unable to do anything other than window shop. Unless some other industry can be attracted to the region we are doomed although as the industries we have attracted are the gambling and legal loan sharking ones it may already be too late.
tyker2 wrote:No.
sounds very similar to Westfield:excuse after excuse. Will we be reading this story in eight or ten years time?
The MAJORITY of people work, own cars and live in detached or semi-detached houses, unlike you.
RollandSmoke
says...
12:09pm Thu 10 Jan 13
Albion. wrote:Your right, I should mind my own business when other peoples standards of living are falling, houses are being repossessed ect. and just be grateful that because I've so little I don't have much to loose. However your assumption that my circumstances are something I chose (or anyone else in a simular predicament for that matter) just illustrates the "prejudice and ignorance" that is devideing the nation at the very time it should be pulling together to find solutions to the problems that effect us all. The futures coming what that future will or should look like is a debate that no-one should be excluded from.
RollandSmoke wrote:As you choose to not work (the very word sends you running for the lavatory/St Johns Wort/cannabis) it wouldn't seem to be any of your business.
Albion. wrote:When your economy relies on retail and service industries it helps if the people have money to spend after their bills are paid. The story of benefit claimants getting a higher % pay rise than workers exposes the fact that wages are being driven down as the benefit rises were merely in line with inflation. Until such a time as employers offer jobs with living wages the retail/service sectors will decline due to people on the minimum being unable to do anything other than window shop. Unless some other industry can be attracted to the region we are doomed although as the industries we have attracted are the gambling and legal loan sharking ones it may already be too late.
tyker2 wrote:No.
sounds very similar to Westfield:excuse after excuse. Will we be reading this story in eight or ten years time?
The MAJORITY of people work, own cars and live in detached or semi-detached houses, unlike you.
Albion.
says...
12:19pm Thu 10 Jan 13
No, I was aiming right between the eyes. :-)
RollandSmoke
says...
12:29pm Thu 10 Jan 13
Albion. wrote:As the force's helicopter isn't out you can't possibly have a line of sight.
"(or anyone else in a simular predicament for that matter)"
No, I was aiming right between the eyes. :-)
Avro
says...
1:23pm Thu 10 Jan 13
justjustice says...
3:12am Thu 10 Jan 13
Here we go again. At least here's hoping we dont, Keighley should show it is better than Bradford.