HOLME WOOD, Tong, Ilkley and Greengates are some of the areas of the district that could see the creation of major new employment sites in the coming years.

Bradford Council has called for landowners to put forward sites for employment development, and is focusing on four sites in particular - North East Bradford, South East Bradford, North Keighley and Ilkley and Wharfedale.

Under its local plan, Bradford Council aims to create 1,600 jobs a year, and find 60 hectares of new employment land.

A public "call for sites for employment land" began this week, and will ask agents, landowners and developers to suggest suitable sites for offices, research and development facilities and manufacturing.

The Council will then consider these sites as part of the local plan - although they would still need to go out to consultation, and any developments would still need planning permission.

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In its original local plan the Council had aimed to create 135 hectares of employment land, but officers said a change in the types of employment sites needed led to that figure being reduced.

The Council says the "North East" area of Bradford it is looking to create more employment sites in includes Apperley Bridge, Greengates and Thorpe Edge while the South East area of the city includes Holme Wood and Tong.

Marianne McCallum, Chair of Bradford Chamber of Commerce Property Forum, said: “It’s clear that, in order for Bradford’s business community to fulfil its potential and play a full part in our economic growth, that more good quality sites are needed.

"We therefore urge agents, landowners and any others who can play a part, to come forward with potential land sites that can be considered for future development.

"Bradford is on an upward trajectory and landowners can support that by making sites available now.”

Councillor Alex Ross-Shaw, Executive Member for Regeneration, Planning and Transport said: “This is a vital piece of work for us, so that we can identify land for future economic growth and ensure we can deliver the 1,600 jobs per annum the district needs. We’re keen to work with landowners and developers to map out potential sites and be clear about where development could take place in future.”

Councillor Adrian Naylor (Ind, Craven) said the Council faced two main issues with creating jobs - finding large employers willing to set up in the district, and finding suitable sites.

He added: "The issue is the sights haven't come forward. A lot of landowners offer their sites for housing, as the land is far more valuable as a housing site. People just haven't been bringing employment sites forward.

"The other big problem is employers have changed their way of working. We have lost some big employers. What Bradford is missing is a queue of employers not wanting to build on these sites.

"We need to bring the land forward and have employers wanting to develop it."

To put a site forward visit bradford.gov.uk/planning-and-building-control/planning-policy/evidence-base/?Folder=Call+for+Sites

People can submit sites until Tuesday September 24.