PLANS to create three “enterprise zones” in Bradford, that could create hundreds of jobs, are still ongoing, despite little obvious progress.

Councillors were assured that West Yorkshire Combined Authority were still moving ahead with the scheme to develop “key development opportunities” by transforming empty sites in the city into major employment hubs.

Proposals to create nine enterprise zones throughout West Yorkshire date back to 2016, and involve three sites in Bradford - 7.06 hectares of land off Gain Lane, 4.1 hectares on Parry Lane and 8.5 hectares of Staithgate Lane.

The authority says the sites are “suitable for a range of activities including advanced manufacturing and the related supply chain and logistics operations.”

Referred to as M62 Corridor Enterprise Zones, the scheme is referred to in the Economic Strategy for the Bradford District published earlier this year, but there has been little signs of any movement.

Last week representatives from the West Yorkshire Combined Authority addressed Bradford Council’s Regeneration and Environment Scrutiny Committee about a number of ongoing projects.

Councillor Brendan Stubbs asked about the enterprise zone plans.

Shelagh O’Neill, Assistant Director - Economy and Development, said: “The three enterprise zones will have different delivery paths. Parry Lane is in Council ownership and we have been working for some time to reach an agreement with the adjacent landowner to take the site forward. We think combining the sites will provide a better outcome. We are now working on feasibility studies to bring that forward.

Staithgate Lane and Gain Lane are privately owned and have significant ground conditions that need to be addressed. We are moving forward but it might be the sites need to be developed in another way and we are now looking to identify the most appropriate routes to bring them forward. It might be we bring them forward in less challenging areas of the sites.”

When Cllr Stubbs asked if there were any completion dates for the site, Mrs O’Neill replied: “With Parry Lane it is dependent on the neighbouring land owner. With Staithgate Lane and Parry Lane it was unlikely the owners were going to bring anything forward in the next five years. The Enterprise Zone designation has incentivised the owners to move more quickly.”

They added that, like many West Yorkshire Combined Authority Schemes, funding had been made available until 2020.