A £21m pot of cash to regenerate vacant sites in two of the Bradford district's towns has been approved.

Keighley and Shipley will benefit after Government rubber-stamped the next round of Towns Fund cash.

The money will be used to “unlock” brownfield sites and vacant buildings in the two towns so they can be developed for business or commercial use.

Keighley will get a £14m pot of cash while Shipley will get £7m.

Last Summer, it was announced that the two towns had been successful in their Towns Funds bids to Government.

It meant Keighley was eligible for £33m for a range of different regeneration projects, with Shipley getting £25m.

Despite this, the two towns had to place detailed bids for the individual projects they hoped for funding for.

In March, the first £7m worth of bids were approved.

And now a further £21m have been awarded for the “Development Investment Fund.”

This money that can be used to transform long empty sites that have failed to attract any investment.

No detail has yet been given on what areas or buildings the cash will be spent on.

However, earlier this year, the Council’s Heritage Officer Jon Ackroyd told a planning meeting that Low Mill in Keighley, one of the district’s most historically significant mills, could benefit from the fund.

Referring to the derelict mill, he said: “This is one building that we put on the list of potential candidates for Towns Fund assistance."

Councillor Alex Ross-Shaw, Portfolio Holder for Regeneration, Planning and Transport, said: “We know employment land is at an absolute premium along the Aire Valley and this builds on work we have already done around Business Development Zones in Keighley and Shipley. This funding will help unlock a number of sites to deliver jobs and growth to the area.”

Keighley Towns Fund chair, Ian Hayfield, said: “This is fantastic news for Keighley - this approved funding will help deliver real economic and social change.

"Keighley has so much unlocked development potential. The funding will bring forward the construction of much needed industrial units.

"There will be some challenges ahead with the delivery of this scheme but I know if we work together and find common ground when difficulties arise we will make this work."