Developers have revealed that two major regeneration projects - with a combined cost of £440 million - are on the verge of getting under way.

The proposed Listerhills student village development and the Bradford Channel scheme have had to overcome significant obstacles, including land acquisition and planning problems respectively.

But the companies behind the projects are now confident that a start date is in sight for schemes that are both considered pivotal in Bradford's regeneration initiative.

Regeneration chiefs hope the £350 million Bradford Channel project, which involves a mixed-use development around a new canal basin, will provide a timely catalyst to the even more complex plan to reinstall the canal between Bradford and Shipley.

Dr Harold Robinson, director of Bradford Channel Limited, said: "The Channel scheme got outline planning permission in August and we are going for reserved matters and detailed planning in February.

"We want to be on site as soon as possible, even though the market is difficult for residential developments at the moment.

The aim is to start work in mid-2008."

Mr Robinson said the start of construction work on major regeneration schemes was a sign of confidence within Bradford.

"That inner confidence will encourage more investment in Bradford from companies outside the city," added Mr Robinson.

Meanwhile, developer Mi7 said it had now acquired about 80 per cent of the land needed for the £90 million Listerhills mixed-use development.

The Manchester-based company, backed by Abu Dhabi-based oil and gas consultancy Projenco Al Khaleej, is planning to start work on phase one of the project in the next few months.

The first phase will see the creation of a state-of-the-art business incubation unit on the large site, with student accommodation and a health centre due to follow in later phases.

Mohammed Ishtiaq, of Mi7, said: "We came into Bradford about four years ago with a major plan for a sustainable student village in conjunction with the university and the college.

"It's taken a long while, but we are looking to start the first phase in the next few months.

"The second phase will involve developing residential accommodation for oversees students at the university and the third phase is a 1,000-bedroom sustainable student village. Reserved matters are going in at the end of the month."

Councillor Andrew Mallinson, Bradford Council's executive member for regeneration, said: "The Channel project will kick-start the canal scheme, which is another crucial project to provide good-quality housing along an under-used corridor."

Coun Mallinson said the canal plan would be discussed again by the Council's executive in March, when leading councillors would look at the possibility of setting up a "special purpose body" to deliver the canal section-by-section.

e-mail: will.kilner @bradford.newsquest.co.uk