Supermarket chain Asda is looking to open a new superstore in Keighley -- creating around 400 jobs for local people.

The company has already made an offer for Peter Black Distribution's Bradford Street site -- which it feels would be an ideal location for the new store -- but the whole project is dependent on planning approval being granted.

A spokesman for Asda says: "We would love to have representation in Keighley, and feel the Burlington site on Bradford Street would be ideal for a new superstore.

"In addition to enabling us to bring our legendary low prices to the area, the new store would provide around 400 full and part-time jobs for local people.

"The sale of the site to Asda would mean Peter Black Holdings would be able to invest in modernising their Airedale Mill site, thereby helping to safeguard their long-term future in Keighley."

Asda will be seeking to meet with local councillors to discuss their proposals, with a view to submitting a planning application.

Area panel chairman Cllr David Emmott has welcomed the news. "It will be very good for Keighley if it goes ahead," he says. "It will mean a lot of new jobs and will give people more choice, which has to be a good thing. Keighley needs to continue growing like this."

Peter Black Distribution has been based at the Burlington distribution centre, which covers 8.5 acres, for the 18 years and employs around 200 people there.

Harry Johnson, managing director of Peter Black Dist-ribution, told workers at the site this week of the proposed development.

"We felt we needed to make them aware of what was happening," he said.

Mr Johnson said that if the proposal did go ahead it was likely to take up to three years, which would allow plenty of time for a re-development strategy to be devised in order to minimise the impact on the Peter Black business and its workforce. "Our primary objective would be to retain the existing workforce in Keighley," said Mr Johnson.

"This would be achieved by re-developing our Airedale Mill complex and trying to source additional capacity locally."

Peter Black Distribution handles delivery of products for the Peter Black Holdings group, mainly toiletries, personal care products and footwear and accessories. It also has a growing number of third party customers.

Announcing an 11 per cent increase in operating profit to £613,000 for the first six months of this year, group chairman Gordon Black said the division had made commendable progress and maintained a high level of service to its customers.

Peter Black interim results - see page 6