THE families behind the famous village of Saltaire gave their support to a farmer who is fighting plans to demolish his dairy farm and replace it with an innovation centre.

Nick Salt and Jamie Roberts are pressing Bradford Council planners to refuse permission to build on Milner Field Farm in Gilstead, Bingley.

Landowner Kingsbridge Directors Pension Scheme want to replace it with the Bradford Innovation Centre.

Mr Salt, whose great-great-grandfather Sir Titus Salt built Saltaire, and Mr Roberts, whose great-great-grandfather Sir James Roberts revitalised the mill, joined farmer David Downs, whose family has managed the land since 1902, at a protest on Saturday.

Mr Salt said: “The proposed development threatens the working farm and the greenfield land that provides such an important backdrop for the World Heritage Site. There are probably much better locations on derelict brownfield land.”

KDPS’s David Beal said previously: “The intention is to create a world class innovation centre that will help the Bradford region to compete in the global economy.”