A DEVELOPMENT in Baildon has brought hundreds of jobs to the district, despite a number of early setbacks - according to Bradford Council’s leader.

Councillor Susan Hinchcliffe says the number of people employed at Baildon Business Park will rise from 200 to 375 once all the units at site are occupied, which she says is likely to happen in “early 2019.”

She was responding to a question by Baildon Councillor Debbie Davies (Cons) who pointed out at a Full Council meeting earlier this month that the development had fallen short of what was originally promised.

Ten years ago plans to build a “Science and Technology” park on a field on Buck Lane in Baildon were first proposed by the Council. The plans proved controversial, with many Baildon residents questioning why a green area had to be lost when there were brownfield sites in Bradford that lay empty.

The Council then claimed the development would create up to 700 jobs and include a hotel, shops and technology hub.

At the meeting Cllr Davies asked Cllr Hinchcliffe to provide an update on the number of jobs at the site in light of the fact the hotel, shop and hub had never been developed.

The site is now called Sapper Jordan Rossi Park - named after the first Bradford soldier to be killed in Afghanistan.

Cllr Hinchcliffe said the site was close to completion. She added: “The development has 22 units, 10 of which are occupied, with the remaining 12 to be occupied from early 2019. The development has brought in high value business from outside the district to locate here, and has enabled other local businesses to expand their operation at the site.”

Sites currently based at the park include Aerospace company Produmax, which manufactures aircraft parts, medical equipment manufacturer Anetic Aid and John Ayrey, a local model company that moved to the site to expand into 3D printing.

Northern Powerhouse Minister Jake Berry visited the the park and Produmax with Shipley MP Philip Davies in August.

Cllr Hinchcliffe said the withdrawal of “significant” public sector funding early into the scheme meant the site had to be scaled down, with the technology hub removed and the job figure revised to 477.

The recession had led to the hotel plans being dropped, and the convenience store plan fell through after Morrisons ended its Morrisons Local brand.

Cllr Hinchcliffe said: “The number of jobs on site is approximately 200. Once all the units are occupied it is expected the jobs figure will be approximately 375 but this will continue to grow. As an example, Produmax have been in their unit for three years and staff numbers have doubled in that time.”