A NEW business park, including office space, 20 business units and a cafe could be created in Keighley town centre.

The site, which would be called Providence Place, would be built on a site on Dalton Lane, opposite Keighley College.

A new planning application would see the site redeveloped, with existing crumbling buildings replaced with new, modern units that would "offer significant employment opportunity" to the town.

The application, which has just been submitted to Bradford Council, says the scheme will create smaller units for new businesses as three larger units, one of which could attract "a national company looking to establish a new trade counter in Keighley."

The Keighley Towns Fund - a pot of regeneration cash worth up to £25 million, could be used to bring the plans to fruition.

Modern Equipment & Foundry Engineers, the steel manufacturer that currently occupies the site, submitted the application.

In 2019 the Dalton Lane area was identified as a "Business Development Zone" - areas that would be prioritised for regeneration and new business space.

Keighley town centre site to be redeveloped with 34 new employment units

The new site will include office space, 17 small business units, three large business units with trade counters, and parking for 85 cars and 20 bicycles.

The curved corner building at the junction of Dalton Lane and Bradford Road, would be retained as a cafe that would serve staff at the site.

The application says: "Market research undertaken by the client has identified the need for the size of the units as described above.

"Shortages in the supply of any industrial type units, particularly higher quality, on the rental market has been confirmed by Hayfield Robinson and Walker Singleton who act as commercial estate agents in Keighley.

"There have also been direct requests from prospective tenants on almost a weekly basis.

"Hayfield Robinson have confirmed the requirement for smaller incubator units as well as a national company looking to establish a new trade counter in Keighley. There is also interest in the Café unit on the site.

Referring to the site's current occupiers and the applicants behind the plans, the application says: "Whilst this is a successful company, its current employees number below 10. This new development will encourage multiple businesses from small incubator startups to national providers.

"This scheme will offer significant employment opportunity in the area."

Modern Equipment and Foundry Engineering has been on the site for over 50 years, but the use of the site for industry dates back much further. It had once been used by the Prince Smith business, a Textile Engineer company employing 1600 workers that was formed at the beginning of the Industrial Revolution in 1795.

A decision on the application is expected in June.

If approved the application would be the latest major development in Keighley.

Earlier this year plans for a £10m retail park, including a new Aldi, were approved for a long empty site on East Parade.

And a number of vacant buildings on the Aire valley Business Park on Lawkholme Lane are being demolished to make way for 34 new business units.