170 new jobs for the taxman

Despite delays in getting the city centre development off the ground, the Inland Revenue today said it was committed to pressing ahead with the major expansion.

The multi-million pound state-of-the-art building, to be created by Landmark Development Projects next to Bradford Interchange, will house about 400 workers.

Of those, 230 staff will transfer from the existing income tax headquarters next to Forster Square railway station.

The rest are expected to be new jobs for a new national network of Inland Revenue offices.

Today the Inland Revenue strongly denied claims that it was contemplating cancelling the contract because of delays over the development, which was expected to be well under way by now.

A spokesman said: "The Inland Revenue remains fully committed to this planned development in Bradford and has not considered cancellation.

"Some legal and contractual issues have taken longer than expected to resolve but the Inland Revenue must ensure value for money for taxpayers and a safe environment for its customers and staff before it can finalise a contract.

"The Inland Revenue is doing its best to bring the negotiations to a successful conclusion."

But Paul Tillyer, Bradford branch secretary of the Public and Commercial Services Union, which covers tax office workers, calimed delays over "seemingly minor building issues" - which he said mainly came from the Inland Revenue estates management firm Mapeley - had delayed the project.

"The Inland Revenue has continually moved deadlines and have broken promises made at the highest level," he said.

Bradford Council's executive member for corporate and regeneration, Councillor Simon Cooke, said: "The Council is committed to the development and will seek to get it done as quickly as possible."

The Council is expected to lease one of the floors to house up to 100 of its own telephone advisers.

No comment was available from Landmark Developments.