PLANS to regenerate Bradford city centre, Shipley and the Canal Road corridor have hit a major milestone.

Official Council 'action plans' setting out how the areas will be developed over the next 15 years will soon be sent to the Government for approval.

Both the city-centre plan and the Shipley and Canal Road plan outline the vision of what the areas will look like by 2030.

Councillor Val Slater, Bradford Council's executive member for housing, planning and transport, said: "These two area action plans set out guidelines on future regeneration schemes, housing and infrastructure.

"Each of the plans will set out the vision and objectives for Bradford city centre and Shipley and the Canal Road corridor for the next 15 years.

"The plans will help us to achieve the vision set out and the changes that need to be carried out in the future and build on what has already been achieved."

Both plans include making sure any developments are of an appropriate scale, mix and design quality.

They also state that the Council is prepared to use tools like compulsory purchase orders, which force landowners to sell up, to gather the land needed for important developments and critical infrastructure.

In Bradford city centre, the plans also include:

- Renovating historic buildings in Little Germany and Goitside;

- Safeguarding and enhancing important cultural assets like the Alhambra theatre, St George's Hall and the National Media Museum;

- Making Bradford a "a major destination in the wider region".

Meanwhile, the action plan for Shipley and the Canal Road corridor would see it recognised as a 'growth area' with around 3,000 new homes.

The action plan also includes:

- The creation of an "exemplar" urban eco-village at New Bolton Woods;

- An improved retail, leisure, office and housing offer in Shipley;

- Much-improved links from Shipley to links to Saltaire, Shipley station and the Leeds-Liverpool Canal;

- The creation of a linear park linked to an improved Bradford Beck and the Canal Road Greenway.

If the plans are approved by the Council's Executive next Tuesday and the Full Council on Tuesday, October 20, they will be published for people to make formal comments on.

The plans will then be sent down to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, Greg Clark, for approval.

The documents will form part of the Local Plan, a blueprint for development setting out which areas should be set aside for housing, infrastructure and industry until 2030.