Mix of heritage and innovation is way forward

One way this can be done is through restoring and regenerating town centre buildings -- such as the magnificent Royal Arcade and Cavendish Street. Coupled with that -- as identified by the team behind the Airedale Masterplan -- is the need to encourage town centre living with private sector investment.

One of the key sites identified by the visionaries behind the regeneration strategy is Grove Mills, at Ingrow.

Today it can be revealed that Skipton Properties has a £65 million plan to bring the area back to life.

It is a massive scheme and shows commitment by the company to the area. And, as it says, it is a vote of confidence in the aspirations to regenerate the Worth Valley.

Major benefits include removing the dereliction which can be seen from the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway and allowing access to a better Worth Valley Way and future country park area.

An issue was always going to be access to the site but under the plan a new entrance in Halifax Road will go a long way to helping improve traffic flow.

However, it is a fact of life that not everyone will be happy with all aspects of the idea.

That is not a negative. It is simply people whose lives and livelihoods may be affected in some way by the development having their say, with the right to be listened to and their views considered.

This newspaper has been critical of Skipton Properties in the past. But the company's approach to this major scheme -- with a public consultation exercise before planning permission is sought -- has to be applauded.

It has to be the way forward, especially as a scheme of this magnitude needs as many people on board as possible.

The masterplanners rightly describe Keighley as a town of heritage and innovation. This scheme demonstrates both a spirit of innovation and celebrating its heritage, through redevelopment.

It also sends out yet another clear signal that this area is going onwards and upwards.