PLANS for a new multi-million pound business park in the district are set to come to fruition.

Two major businesses are in talks with landowner Turner Developments about relocating to the former Worthington site behind Keighley fire station.

Bradford Council is also involved in the negotiations in the hope the companies will also use the adjoining site of the former Keighley College Harold Town annex.

The progress – which is likely to see the companies named within a few weeks – has been welcomed by Keighley politicians due to potential to create jobs and raise much-needed cash for the council.

The project, which replaced the previous owners’ plan to create a £30 million leisure, housing and business complex on the Worthington site, follows Turner’s success redeveloping Keighley’s former Magnet Joinery site.

Hundreds of jobs were created as several flourishing local firms, including cardboard tube maker J Stell & Son, moved to new units at the Magnet complex in Royd Ings Avenue.

Turner, and its agents Atkinson Associates, and now fully focused on developing the Worthington site which until 2011 was the home of West Yorkshire Spinners at the now-demolished Chatsworth Works.

In January, news broke of the potential joint Turner/Bradford Council scheme.

Mike Atkinson, of Atkinson Associates, said the Worthington project was a “work in progress” that had recently accelerated.

He said: “We have now concluded most of the technical investigations that were necessary on the site.

“We are in conversation with Bradford Council with regard to both our aspirations for the site and we’ve got an agreement in principle to work towards a joint project.

“Both the council and ourselves are talking to a couple of occupiers and it’s all moving forward in a positive way.”

Keighley MP Kris Hopkins said that although unemployment in Keighley had almost halved over the last six years, the new project showed that it was important to continue to attract new inward investment and jobs into the town.

He said: “I am naturally supportive of all initiatives which can help people here to return to work and benefit from the continuing upturn of the local economy. I am happy to assist in any way I can.”

Cllr Abid Hussain, who represents Keighley Central ward on Bradford Council, said a joint development of both sites would be “fantastic” news.

He said: “I fully support this if it’s bringing more jobs to Keighley, especially for young people."

Fellow Keighley Central councillor Zafar Ali was delighted to see jobs being created at the former Magnet site along with the potential development of the Worthington land.

He said: “If that brings a number of jobs to Keighley it will boost the town’s economy, and that’s what we have to strive for."

Turner Developments and Atkinson Associates were among companies who worked over four years to redevelop the former Magnet site, creating first the Aireside Business Park then the 360,000 sq ft Riverside Business Park.

J Stell & Son, founded in 1872, moved to Royd Ings from its cramped factory in Fell Lane, Keighley; Dowsons Food Machinery moved from the Castlefield Industrial Estate in Crossflatts; Cavalier Marketing expanded from elsewhere in Royd Ings; and Advanced Couplings relocated from the Dalton Lane area.

Mr Atkinson said: “All units have now been sold and we’re off the site. That’s all gone very well, all the occupiers are happy.

“From the perspective of Turner Developments we’re looking at the Worthington site to go ahead.”