A 'FLAGSHIP' £7 million project will see housing and commercial units created in Shipley, and an existing building in the town demolished.

But details of the project remain shrouded in secrecy.

In 2019, Government announced Shipley would be one of 100 areas of the country to benefit from its Towns Fund – a pot of cash to regenerate town centres.

Projects in Shipley include the regeneration of the town’s Market Square and the creation of a new Community, Heritage and Future Skills Centre in Saltaire.

Another project in the £25m Shipley scheme is the “Development Investment Fund” – £7m earmarked for the redevelopment of an area of the town.

However, despite this being one of the main projects of the Towns Fund, very little detail has ever been made public.

Minutes from the most recent meeting of the Towns Fund reveal some details of the plan, but don’t disclose which site will be developed.

The minutes say: “The development will provide housing and ground floor commercial use on a site which is Council owned, but on a long-term lease (87 years remaining).

“The plan is to buy back the lease from the current leaseholder and secure vacant possession, then demolish the site and hand over to the preferred developer for development.

“Both parties are keen to move forward and legal documents are now being prepared, to be signed shortly.

“Works continue to determine the overall condition of the building to create a demolition strategy.

“The demolition would be 4-6 months.”

Government criteria for the Towns Fund was that cash would be distributed by Towns Fund Boards. These boards would be headed up by local business leaders, and include some local Councillors and the local MP.

The Shipley Towns Fund Board is chaired by Adam Clarkin, head of operations for CarnaudMetalbox Engineering, and also includes Shipley MP Philip Davies and Bradford Council executive councillor Alex Ross-Shaw.

Meetings are not held in public, and minutes are often only published weeks later.

The update on the Development Investment Fund were included in the minutes for the March 11 meeting.

Minutes show that when receiving updates on the various Towns Fund projects, members were keen for the £7m scheme to move ahead as soon as possible.

It said: “Board are conscious of the ‘flagship’ nature of this project and want it to progress.

“Strengthening of resources for the back up plans also implemented.”

Members were assured that the project would be completed by the March 2026 deadline.