A LONG standing Bradford business' plans to increase employment on its site have been approved.

Members of Bradford Council's Regulatory and Appeals Committee unanimously backed an application to build four new industrial units on the Bulmer and Lumb site on Royds Hall Lane, as well as the refurbishment of existing space at the site.

The company revealed plans to increase employment on the site earlier this year, and Thursday's committee meeting was told that the plans were the "first stepping stone" to further development.

Bulmer and Lumb, which specialises in dying fabrics, has been based at its Buttershaw site since the mid 20th Century.

The application would create around 2,300 square metres of new business space.

There have been a number of objections to the plans, and local Councillor Angela Tait (Lab, Royds) had also raised concerns.

She said: "I welcome any potential business development and job opportunities this will bring to the District, I have great concerns about the traffic it will bring."

She said some roads near the site were already used as "rat runs" and residents feared extra staff on the site would lead to parking on neighbouring streets.

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John Rowley, Principal Highways Engineer, said the development would lead to around 13 extra car journeys in the morning peak, which would not have any major impact on traffic.

Carl Marsden, who lives opposite the site, spoke at the meeting. He told members the development would lead to an increase iin pollution, noise and traffic, and the roads to the site were not suitable for HGVs.

He said it was "misleading" for the company to say it would create new jobs, as the businesses setting up at the site may just be relocating from elsewhere.

He said: "A lot of people want to put a stop to this completely - I know that can't be done, they have a right to develop their land."

Instead he suggested they alter the plans to include a different access point.

Planning officers said this would mean trees screening the site would have to be cut down, and it could impact how much industrial space is provided on the land.

Representatives from Bulmer and Lumb told the Committee that the company had been based on the site for over 70 years, and at its height employed 2,000 people.

A much smaller number of people were currently working there, and the company hoped to diversify the site by building the new units.

The application was described as the "first stepping stone to further investment."

The "high quality, modern commercial space" would attract small start up businesses and small to medium enterprises (SMEs) the Committee was told.

Members unanimously voted to approve the application.