Shipley is set for a jobs boost after plans to complete the re-development of a former factory site got the go-ahead, it was revealed today.

The bid to build a two-storey office block on the canalside site off Salts Mill Road has been welcomed by community and business leaders.

Over the past two years millions of pounds have been pumped into the site, which had been derelict for over a decade, to create scores of jobs through the opening of the Holiday Inn Express hotel, Noble Comb pub and JCT600's Vauxhall and Peugeot car dealerships.

Now Bradford Council has granted Ilkley-based property developer Michelgate planning permission to complete the site's rejuvenation by building an office block, covering more than 1,100 square metres.

Chris Hall, the firm's acquisitions director, said it was hoped that the building - with parking for more than 30 cars - would be completed during mid-2000. Offices would then be sold or leased to tenants.

He said: "It's a good site and we're moving in on the growth of the high tech firms that seem to be expanding into Shipley and the fact that people still want out of town offices.''

Councillor Tony Miller (Lab, Shipley East), chairman of the Shipley Town Centre Development Partnership, said: "This is really good news and hopefully it's going to mean jobs for local people with workers shopping and eating in the town.

"Along with the hotel, pub and garage, as well as the new McDonald's and Aldi, it demonstrates a growing confidence in Shipley and willingness to invest there.

"That whole corridor's becoming a really successful part of the town compared to how it was five or ten years ago.

"Success breeds success and hopefully it will have knock-on benefits for Shipley because when people see others investing time and money in an area they want to be part of it as well.''

Shipley newsagent and Bradford Chamber of Trade president Eric Hudson said: "People are beginning to see Shipley as a place to invest in and this would be a real feather in the cap for the town. ''

Mr Hudson added that the proposals were particularly good news coming as they did in the wake of last week's announcement that textile group Worthington is to close the nearby Victoria Mills site with the loss of some 130 jobs.

He said: "Hopefully some of the people losing jobs there may be able to get work at this site.

"It would also have knock-on benefits for local traders and businesses. That whole area was becoming very derelict and quite an eyesore but is now turning into quite a good industrial and commercial area.''

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.