THE move to create a new business park on a former Yorkshire Water treatment works ticks a lot of boxes in terms of its purpose, location and potential to aid the regeneration of the local economy.

Keyland Developments, the property arm of Yorkshire Water’s parent group Kelda, is about to submit plans to revamp the former North Bierley works into a 57-acre complex which, they say, could create up to 1,000 jobs.

This is exactly the right sort of location for such a venture: not only does it have excellent transport links with the M62 and M606 motorways nearby, but it is the perfect way to breathe new life into a post-industrial site.

And, by offering potential homes for businesses and industry, it could act as a magnet for a wide range of firms which will create jobs and significantly boost the local economy.

After the fallow years of the credit crunch and the subsequent recessions, it is heartening to see this sort of development on the drawing board again.

There is, according to Keyland, a “chronic shortage” of suitable industrial sites along the M62 corridor, and this location will provide much sought-after space for industrial and distribution businesses.

It is to be hoped these proposals meet with the support of planners and local residents and that the establishment of this business park consolidates our district’s reputation as a great home for industry with fantastic communications links which could, hopefully, see more sites being brought back into use in this way to provide work, income and regeneration for the area.