Bingley's dilapidated shopping centre will undergo a multi-million pound make-over after plans were unanimously given the thumbs up.

Despite objections from civic guardians and concerns raised, members of Shipley Area Planning Panel agreed yesterday the upgrade of Myrtle Walk shopping centre is paramount to the revitalisation of Bingley.

The panel heard the new 5Rise development, which will include a large "quality" supermarket, rumoured to be Marks & Spencer, and 86 flats, will help boost the town's economy from £30 million-a-year to more than £50 million-a-year.

The figures came from a survey carried out by marketing firm CACI on behalf of developers 4Urban, which says the boost is vital to the sustainability of the town because if its income falls below £30 million, Bingley would have to be re-classed as a village.

Controversy has surrounded the plans, due to their modern facade and materials, and objections were received from Bingley Civic Trust. The trust said the town "deserved better" and chairman Eileen Sinclair dubbed the development "Las Vegas on a bad day".

But Bingley ward councillors Robin Owens, Colin Gill and David Heseltine voiced their support for the scheme at Shipley Town Hall. Town centre manager David Dinsey also backed the new shopping centre.

Concerns were raised by panel members over the halving in size of the town's library from 913sq metres to 500sq metres to fit in to the new development, but the panel heard this was accepted by Bradford Council.

The fact that only one disabled toilet, which will be located in the library, would be included in the shopping centre was also of a major concern to members Councillor Valerie Binney (Con) and Councillor Vanda Greenwood (Lab). But, they were told new public loos exist in the town, next to the arts centre, and it is hoped the new supermarket may also be able to include toilets.

Councillor John Watmough (Lib Dem), who lives in Bingley, said: "Overall, I desperately believe that Bingley needs this scheme and not to have it would be a disaster. It may not be what we all want, it may not be perfect, but for Bingley's sake, we need to have it."

Richard Holmes, a partner with 4Urban, said he was delighted. He said: "We are very pleased, we are delighted. We have got a lot of work to do but we are looking forward to it. This morning I thought there were some concerns about the civic trust and what they were saying.

"But, the planning officer dealt with their points really well. At the end of the day, the panel made the right decision for the people of Bingley."

The panel gave the nod for Bradford Council to agree how many flats will be given up for affordable housing and other issues involving a 106 agreement.

Work is set to start on the development in May or June next year.

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