FURTHER details have been revealed about a new retail development on a key Shipley site.

Last week, planning documents submitted to Bradford Council showed a Lidl and Costa were tipped to open on the Airedale Mills site on Salts Mill Road.

Outline plans were given the go-ahead back in December 2018, but developers say work has been delayed due to the combined effects of Brexit, a general election and the Covid-19 pandemic. Cardinal Limited, a Bradford-based commercial interiors company, which in 2016 relocated its production facility from the site to new premises in Battye Street, Laisterdyke, Bradford, following the 2015 Boxing Day floods, announced plans to redevelop earlier that year.

The land was previously subject to a planning application from Sainsbury’s, which was refused by Bradford Council in 2013.

It was part of a fiercely competitive three-way contest to build a new supermarket in the town. Bradford-based Morrisons won the battle, but later confirmed it was pulling out of the scheme for commercial reasons.

Now, detailed planning applications have been submitted for the prominent gateway site, close to Shipley town centre.

Property developers Morbaine said: "Since the outline planning permission was granted, property developers Morbaine have held detailed discussions with numerous potential end-occupiers with a view to delivering the proposed redevelopment and securing new investment in Shipley.

"Two applications have now been submitted, one showing the detailed design for a discount foodstore to be operated by Lidl and a drive thru coffee unit operated by Costa, whilst the second is for site enabling works to facilitate a third retail unit in the future. Also this week, full construction drawings have been released to a number of building contractors who are interested in undertaking the physical works on site. With tenders due back in the summer, there is now the real prospect of works beginning in earnest over the coming months."

Graham Adams of Morbaine said: "We are delighted to be able to announce that our project in Shipley has taken two massive steps forward.

"In times of such uncertainty for us to have secured two quality operators in Lidl and Costa is great news for the community of Shipley and the future of the town. With the planning applications submitted and the invitations to tender released to contractors we now look forward to building real momentum. The project has been delayed by over a year due to the combined effects of Brexit, a general election and a global pandemic. The world is a very different place to what it was when we started on this road but we can now begin to see a more positive future."

Work could begin on the site early next year, with stores opening to customers in late summer/autumn.