An enthusiastic entrepreneur is being sought by Bradford Council to turn the historic St Ives estate in Bingley into a country park.

On offer is a chance to lease and convert the former Home Farm buildings and 22 acres of adjoining farmland into facilities to enhance the country park theme.

Ideas for the site include an educational or model farm, craft shop, riding school with provisions for people with disabilities and tea rooms.

Councillor Barry Thorne, chairman of the leisure services committee, said: "Unfortunately we can't afford to develop the Home Farm site by ourselves.

"What we are looking for is someone from the private sector to work in partnership with the authority to provide extra facilities for the public.

"This is a tremendous opportunity for an organisation, or even an individual, to be part of an exciting venture to breathe new life into this historic estate."

St Ives Estate comprises 550 acres and some of the land is leased to various bodies while an extensive area is already being used as public woodland.

The Ferrand family, who owned it originally, took almost 300 years to develop the estate and it is often referred to as one of the jewels in the district's crown.

The farm is part of an estate made up of hundreds of acres of woodland, moorland, pasture and water features.

Attractions include Coppice Pond, an artificial lake which once supplied water to the mansion house and a listed packhorse bridge.

A management plan for the estate is to be developed by the Council in consultation with local groups and Bingley Neighbourhood Forum.

Anyone who is interested in taking on all or part of the site should contact senior property services officer Richard Schofield on (01274) 752049.

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