A MAJOR scheme to develop a former water treatment plant on the edge of Bradford looks set to be approved later this week.

Keyland Developments has further revised its outline plans for a business park at the redundant North Bierley waste water treatment works in Oakenshaw.

This follows a meeting in November where members of a key planning committee were asked for their position on an already revised scheme.

At this meeting concerns were raised about highways works connected to the scheme, and as a result revisions have been made at key junctions.

The proposals now include: a road widening scheme to allow and left and right turning lane at the Mill Carr Hill Road and Bradford Road junction; and a change in road priority at the junction of Cliff Hollins Lane and Mill Carr Hill Road.

In addition the scheme includes widening of the Bradford Road approach to the Chain Bar roundabout at junction 26 of the M62 to create three lanes

In a report to Thursday’s strategic planning committee, planning officers state: “In view of the identified constraints, the redevelopment of this brownfield site has resulted in a challenging viability equation.

“The revised proposals would, in the opinion of officers, enable the development of a viable employment only scheme being brought forward whilst retaining an adequate level of separation distance between Oakenshaw and Cleckheaton.”

They add: “The proposals would not only assist in the regeneration of a long-standing derelict site but also provide social gain through the provision of additional employment, job creation with good transport links.”

Bradford Councillor Sarah Ferriby (Lab, Wyke) as well as Cleckheaton councillors Kath Pinnock and John Lawson have raised concerns over a number of highways matters.

Cllrs Pinnock and Lawson said: “At Chain Bar, there is already a big problem with traffic queuing from Oakenshaw. Drivers can wait for 20 minutes of more to get onto Chain Bar.

“More traffic on Bradford Road will only make this much worse. The development is proposing to add an extra lane for access to Chain Bar but this only for a very short length and will do little to reduce the problem.”

When Keyland, the property trading arms of Kelda Group and sister company to Yorkshire Water, first submitted its plans for the site to Kirklees Council in 2016, it was for a business park and 101 homes.

The scheme was later altered to remove the homes that were previously proposed on the greenfield part.

The current plans are for 35,284 sq m of business units and landscape buffer at the southern end of the site, leaving land for a future motorway link road.

The meeting takes place on Thursday at 1pm.