PLANS for an industrial development on a main route into Bradford have been approved, 19 months after they were first submitted.

In early 2019 an application to build light industrial units off Manchester Road were submitted by Bradford Trident, a community organisation that operates in that area of the city.

The plans involved the demolition of the New Inn - a long empty pub building that had stood derelict for years and become one of the city's biggest eyesores.

Now, after numerous tweaks over a 19 month period, the planning application has been approved.

The application has taken so long to approve that the derelict pub has since been demolished - in May this year Bradford Council urged the building's owners to knock down the pub due to safety concerns.

Much of the delay was due to negotiations between the applicants and Yorkshire Water. The utilities provider had objected to the plans due to the fact the development would be built over a public water supply network and sewage system.

Decision due on £19m enterprise zone plans

Negotiations went on for several months until an altered scheme was submitted, which led to Yorkshire Water withdrawing their objection earlier this month.

The application will create 1,335sqm of industrial floor space, spread out over 11 units and with access from Huitson Street.

Around 24 full time and seven part time jobs would be created, and solar panels would be built on the roof of the units.

Planning officers said the application will help with its Core Strategy - which includes the goal of creating 100 hectares of employment land in Bradford by 2030.

The site would likely be included in future employment land allocations - officers added.

Approving the scheme they said: "It is important to maintain and encourage new industrial and commercial investment.

"The site occupies a sustainable location on Manchester Road, which affords convenient access via good public transport links in the form of frequent bus services along Manchester Road to the city centre and the site is within walking distance of local shops and services.

"Its location is in walking and cycling distance to work for numerous potential employees.

"The proposed development site is a previously developed site used for employment in a mixed use area, is considered to be a very sustainable location for new employment development and is considered to be a contender for allocation as an employment site in the forthcoming site allocations.

"It is considered that the proposed development of the site will not significantly detract from the visual quality of the environment and will provide buildings of a high quality on a main road leading into Bradford."