PLANS have been revealed today for a new business park development in Bradford that could create up to 1,000 jobs.

Keyland Developments Ltd, the property trading arm of Kelda Group, which also includes Yorkshire Water, has unveiled plans to transform the former North Bierley waste water treatment works, close to the M62 and M606 motorways, into a 57 acre business and industrial complex.

The move is part of Keyland’s strategy of regenerating Yorkshire Water’s redundant sites and the company is preparing to submit a planning application to Kirklees Council.

Keyland is planning to create 500,000 sq ft of space for a range of industrial and distribution uses designed to address a chronic shortage of new industrial accommodation, particularly along the M62 corridor in West Yorkshire.

Nearby business parks in south Bradford and north Kirklees are operating at full capacity, offering limited opportunities for local and regionally based businesses to expand.

Keyland said its proposals could bring back into use one of the most strategically located and extensive sites within the region and see the creation of an employment-generating industrial and business park which would make a significant contribution to the economic regeneration of the locality.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus:

Peter Garrett, Keyland Developments Ltd managing director, said: “The chronic shortage of quality industrial accommodation within the region has been well documented and the creation of this new park is intended to address that and also deliver a significant number of new jobs and expansion opportunities to the local area.

“The North Bierley site has been redundant since 2010 and, due to its capacity and exceptional connectivity, lends itself ideally to industrial usage. We are looking forward to progressing with our planning application in the forthcoming weeks.”

Mike Dove, partner at consultants Dove Haigh Phillips, added: “This site has such multi-level appeal due to the proposed combination of unit sizes. It is welcome news not only for the broader market where supply is so restricted but also for more local and regional businesses who have been successfully operating from nearby business parks and wish to expand.

"With such a strong location on the M62 corridor, this scheme will inevitably draw in regional investment which is extremely positive news.”

Details of the plans are being put on show today at a drop-in public exhibition between 3.30pm and 7.30pm at Woodlands Cricket Club in Albert Terrace, Oakenshaw. Further information can also be found at northbierleywwtw.co.uk.

Meanwhile, sister company Yorkshire Water says £31 million of improvements to the Esholt waste water treatment works in Bradford, including a new sludge treatment plant, has helped to increase its renewable energy generation by nearly 80 per cent . The work is helping the company to generate an expected 75 gigawatt hours this year and reduce its carbon footprint by nearly 15,000 tonnes.