Work is set to begin on a new £4.8 million food technology park which could create up to 300 jobs in the heart of Bradford.

The scheme, to be built in Ripley Street, has received a £1.46m grant from the European Regional Development Fund, which adds to that already received from Bradford Council and Yorkshire Forward.

The latest funding will enable work to start on the reclamation of the currently derelict site.

The new food technology park will initially involve six food production starter units and a shared facilities centre, which will offer central site management, training and a canteen.

The first stage of the project is due to be completed by mid-2006. The site will also allow larger food production units to be built in partnership with a yet to be appointed private developer.

Up to ten jobs will be created during construction and around 15 to 20 staff will be housed in six small businesses once the units are occupied.

Further developments will create up to 300 jobs as the larger units are constructed on the remainder of the site.

The project is part of both a district-wide and Yorkshire Forward plan to develop "clusters" of similar businesses, in this case food production, so growing companies can be better supported and developed.

Bradford is already one of the leading centres for the redevelopment agency's digital cluster of new media and electronics firms.

It is understood that there has already been a lot of interest in the new development from companies, particularly centring on ethnic foods.

Today Councillor Simon Cooke, Bradford Council's executive member for regeneration, welcomed the funding from Europe.

"Food production is a potential growth area in Bradford because of its diverse population and this scheme's ability to bring specialist skills together on one site," he said.

"This is a great opportunity to encourage start-up companies and develop small operations through these units where both the quality of the buildings and the way they are operated will ensure exceptionally high standards of hygiene.

"The Council's Regeneration Team will now be taking steps to find a development partner to work on the remainder of the site and will start identifying small food production operations which could move into the development."