A vision of a super town centre with speciality shops and leisure facilities has been unveiled.

Under proposals in the new Unitary Development Plan, Keighley town centre would be expanded to make room for new stores, offices and conversion of old buildings to houses.

The UDP was revealed on Thursday as a guide to development for the whole Bradford area over the next 15 years.

In the first draft it is proposed that the town centre should be expanded to the east of Worth Way and East Parade to accommodate future commercial growth.

Explained group plan manager Andy Haigh: "We wanted to expand the town centre to accommodate more shopping facilities. We have taken expert advice from outside the council.

"They suggest that what Keighley needs is to make provision for what is called comparison shopping.

"This means shops that sell things such as clothes and jewellery.

"Keighley has enough shops that sell foods and household goods, but to rejuvenate the centre and build on its success we need to promote other types of shops.

"We have identified an extension area for the town between the existing Morrisons and the Cavendish Street junction."

A new road would be built close to the river to divert traffic and calm the existing streets.

Mr Haigh continues: "There is a proposed relief road between Gresley Road and Worth Way.

"This should make it easier for shoppers to cross East Parade."

Cllr Anne Hawkesworth, Bradford Council's executive member for the environment, says: "Keighley has a very successful town centre, but different shopping interests should help build on its success."

It is also proposed that the older industrial end of town, encompassing Spring Bank and Ingrow, be regenerated.

It has been designated as a mixed-use site in the UDP for both business and residential use.

Mr Haigh says: "We hope to regenerate the industrial use of the old end of town and encourage businesses. It is a good opportunity to use existing buildings for redevelopment."

Land at Beechcliffe has been proposed as a site for employment development.

Cllr Hawkesworth says: "Local companies need to expand and there is a strong need for office parks."

Mr Haigh adds: "Business is changing in Keighley, and there will be different office-based opportunities rather than the traditional jobs of Keighley."

Cllr Simon Cooke, responsible for regeneration and business partnerships, adds: "By extending the town centre we are opening up a large areas for new opportunities."

l The UDP is being hailed as a document to protect green field sites.

Along with housing sites within the town it is proposed that sites beyond Guard House and at Oakworth, allocated in the current plan, should not be released for development until the second phase of the plan, 2010 - 2014. This time scale also applies to housing sites at Long Lee.

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