Significant progress has been made on the construction of a major industrial hub in Keighley town centre, at Providence Park on the former Universal Mills site, is well under way.

Work is progressing well on the five buildings which will house 12 industrial units – the smallest unit is 150 square metres with the largest at 828 square metres. The roof work is due to complete soon, with further building work to follow over the coming months.

Ian Hayfield, chairman of Keighley Towns Fund, said: "This is another very exciting commercial development for Keighley. We believe the site opening will create between 80 to 100 jobs which is a real boost during the current economic climate."

-- Advertisement --

Plans for the development, on the corner of Dalton Lane and Bradford Road, were approved in 2021, and the scheme was awarded funding through the Keighley Towns Fund – a £33m Government-funded programme to boost Keighley. The Keighley Towns Fund has set aside £6.5m towards the £12m re-development of the 7,000 square metre site.

Bradford Council's Executive Member for Planning, Regeneration and Transport Alex Ross-Shaw said: |"Demand for employment sites is huge across Keighley and the whole of the Aire Valley so this development is much needed and welcomed. One of the units we already know will be leased to Keighley College, which will work well because of the site’s proximity to the main campus."

The development, which has been approved by planners at Bradford Council will also include a car park for 133 vehicles. A condition of planning means that five per cent of the parking spaces will be fitted with EV charging points. And a further five per cent will be assigned as future charging points once EV take-up increases.