MORE details have been revealed for an innovation centre proposed to be built on farm land in Bingley which developers claim will help put the district at the centre of the "Northern Powerhouse."

But the plans to use a green belt site in Gilstead have also attracted some opposition, with the Green Party describing them as "baffling".

The Milner Field Innovation Centre is proposed on farmland near Dowley Gap and the Leeds and Liverpool Canal and will include laboratories and facilities for start up businesses with some of the site used for research work by the University of Bradford and Bradford College.

A full planning application has now been submitted to Bradford Council by landowner, the Hartley Property Group, and the authority is expected to decide whether to approve the plans in March.

The plans show a centre which will include incubator cells, research wet labs, a cafe and a 100 space car park. Milner Field Farm House will also be refurbished as part of the proposals, which have been submitted with the support of the university.

The planning application states: "The intention is to use the innovation centre to help put Bradford at the centre of the private sector driven Northern Powerhouse initiative, making the centre a beacon of excellence in world markets.

"It will encourage local economic growth by acting as a facility in which entrepreneurs can flourish and succeed, ultimately employing people from the local area. The use proposed is innovation, focusing on small start-ups in technology to promote entrepreneurship with local ties to Bradford University."

Access to the site would be from Primrose Lane.

But Matt Edwards, Green Party spokesman for Bingley, said: “It’s baffling why the Milner Field is being targeted for the construction another business park.

"It is a valuable piece of greenbelt land being used by an established local family business. The roads around there, especially Dowley Gap Lane, are too narrow for any further vehicle usage and the last thing we need is an increase in traffic near Beckfoot School.

“There is already a large derelict site in Bingley where the Auction Mart used to be that is perfect for a development like this.”

The farm's tenants, the Downs family, have used the land for a dairy farm for decades, and have already voiced their opposition to the plans. They urged objectors to join a Facebook group - Milnerfield Action Group.

Dozens of people have also already lodged objections to the plans with Bradford Council.

One objector, Amy Bell, of Gilstead, said: "Bingley is changing beyond all recognition and is no longer the place that I chose when I wanted to settle down and have a family. If I wanted to live where there are business parks and Aldis I would have chosen somewhere else."

But Robert Parkin, pro vice-chancellor at the University of Bradford, described the centre as an "extremely important project to Bradford and Yorkshire" and said it would be a "world class facility."

The Hartley Group was unavailable for comment.