A SCHEME that will see Holme Wood and Apperley Bridge become “future growth locations” has been approved.

West Yorkshire Combined Authority’s “Spatial Priority Areas” were agreed at a meeting yesterday, and the two areas of Bradford have been classed as areas where there could be large housing developments, or the creation of large scale employment developments.

The Canal Road Corridor is classed as an “Investment Location” - a site where future housing and employment development should be encouraged and Shipley and Keighley area areas that will be targeted for regeneration.

Bradford is classed as a “main urban centre” while Leeds is referred to as the region’s “core city.”

Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe, Chair of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority and Leader of Bradford Council, said: “As West Yorkshire becomes a Mayoral Combined Authority in 2021, it’s important that our future priorities for investment and growth reflect our region and the needs of our residents. Looking beyond the current pandemic to the recovery, the new Spatial Priority Areas reaffirm our commitment to building an inclusive economy that works for everyone.”

Apperley Bridge and Holme Wood deemed 'future growth locations'

SPAs were first established in 2014 as part of the Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership's Strategic Economic Plan.

In consultation with partner Local Authorities and other groups, the Combined Authority undertook a review of the existing SPAs, which concluded they were "no longer well-aligned to local plans and the Combined Authority’s evolving strategy for the region."

The draft list of proposed SPAs is as follows:

Core City: Leeds City Centre

Main Urban Centre: Bradford City Centre; Wakefield City Centre; Huddersfield Town Centre; Halifax Town Centre

Investment Location Mixed Use: Canal Road Corridor; Chidswell; East Leeds Extension; Aire Valley ; City Fields; Brighouse Garden Village (Including Clifton); Kirkstall Forge

Investment Location Employment: Langthwaite Grange Extension; North West Leeds Employment Hub; Newmarket; White Rose Office Park; Cooper Bridge

Investment Location Housing: Castleford Growth Zone; Dewsbury Riverside Urban Extension ~; Crosland Moor; Bradley Garden Village

Investment Location Regeneration: Shipley; Keighley; Dewsbury; Batley; Todmorden; Brighouse; Five Towns (Castleford, Normanton, Featherstone, Pontefract, Knottingley); Elland

Future Growth Location: Knottingley and Ferrybridge Growth Area; South Kirkby Urban Extension; Newmarket; Broad Cut Farm; Apperley Bridge / Esholt; Holme Wood

Environmental opportunity: Calder Valley