A MAJOR Keighley town centre site is the subject of a new application to build industrial units.

If new plans are approved, almost 6,700 square metres of industrial space would be built on the former Universal Mills site off Dalton Lane.

The application says it will help deal with the “growing need” for industrial units in Keighley.

The 12 units proposed in these plans would be put on the market – rather than built with an end user in mind. Because of this, the application does not provide any details of how many employees would be based at the site.

However, the scale of the plans can be seen in how many parking spaces are proposed as part of the development – 133 spaces will be created to serve the new businesses.

The “accessible location of the site on the edge of the existing town centre and the modern design of the buildings” would help make it a sustainable development, according to the application.

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Submitted by JPR Developments, the application says: “The units are to be advertised on the open market.

“They would hopefully allow local businesses to move into premises that cater to their needs. We have been made aware by local agents that this area has a growing need for B2 units.

“The proposals seek to promote economic development and provide sustainable economic development by regenerating a brownfield site in an accessible location that will promote increased choice and competition.”

It says approval of the plans would allow “the comprehensive and coherent development of a large site in Keighley.”

Access would be off Beecroft Street, which would be improved and widened if the plans are approved.

At least 10 per cent of the parking spaces on the site will have to include electric vehicle charging points.

A decision on the application is expected next month.

If approved, it would be the latest in a series of industrial developments planned for the centre of Keighley.

The Universal Mills plans come a little over a year after the major redevelopment of a neighbouring site – at the corner of Dalton Lane and Bradford Road, was approved.

That application was for office space, 20 business units and a café.

Industrial plans have also recently been approved for the former Hattersley’s site between Church Street and Beck Street.

And the full redevelopment of Aire Valley Business Park off Lawkholme Lane was approved by Bradford Council last year.