A NEW business park in Thornbury could create between 360 and 820 jobs, according to the developer behind the scheme.

Commercial Development Projects has submitted plans to Bradford Council for an employment development off Gain Lane, on a 37 acre field behind the Morrisons Headquarters.

The proposal would include 310,500 square foot of employment space, including seven large units and an office block, as well as a 540 space car park.

The group says there are already two businesses that have shown interest in moving to the site, including a “substantial and successful” Bradford business that has been “frustrated” by the lack of business sites it could expand on.

The land has already been identified as a possible employment site, and was recently adopted as one of several Leeds City Region Enterprise Zones.

Included in the application is a new access road to the development, on greenbelt land and parallel with the existing Woodhall Road.

The application says: “The proposals will generate a significant number of jobs for the local economy which will be available to residents in the immediate locality.

“At this stage we have had expressions of interest from two companies who are considering relocating to the application site, subject to planning. Whilst these companies wish to remain confidential at this stage, it can be confirmed that one of the expressions of interest has come from a substantial and successful business currently based in Bradford which needs to expand but is currently frustrated by the lack of buildings and/or land on which to do so and would have to relocate outside Bradford otherwise.

“The company currently employs 50 people and the expansion will lead to new jobs being created.”

The applications says that if plans are approved, work on the access road would begin in winter, with work to the employment units starting in Spring 2018.

The plans submitted are only at an outline stage - the developers say this will “ensure flexibility for future occupiers.”

Mike Cartwright, Policy and Representation Executive for the West and North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce, said he recognised the need for more sites for businesses to expand onto, adding: “We welcome the news that there is interest in Bradford’s enterprise zone sites.

“We are increasingly hearing of businesses looking to move and having difficulties finding appropriate sites for medium-sized operations, and these sites go some way to addressing that.

“We look forward to learning of the plans moving forward, when jobs will be created – hopefully, many of them for the local population – and the local economy being supported.”

The Council is expected to decide whether to approve the application in July.

There has so far been one objection, from a resident of neighbouring Foston Lane, who says the development would “spoil the beautiful area.”