Environment Secretary John Prescott has given the go-ahead for a planned multi-million pound development at Centre 27 shopping, leisure and business park in Birstall.

The Deputy Prime Minister has decided not to object, which means Kirklees Council has given planning approval for the scheme.

But planning officer Edward Wills said: "It is on condition the developers enter into a legal agreement to provide road improvements to help with the traffic congestion at Centre 27.

"The developers are quite happy to do this and I understand they are sorting out the legal agreement which is expected to be ready in the next few days.'' Mr Prescott was asked to rule on the application because the land had been designated for business and industry in the Kirklees Unitary Development Plan.

London-based company Edge Properties - now taken over by London firm, Grantchester - is to build seven warehouses to provide branches of High Street retail chains and a 690-space car park off Gelderd Road, opposite IKEA.

The units are expected to sell products such as DIY/gardening goods, furniture, carpets, car parts, motor accessories, electrical and gas appliances, cycles and pet products.

Two huge empty factories which were on the site have already been demolished to make way for the shops.

They belonged to Bradford-based Spring Ram kitchen and bathroom giant. The company sold the site to Edge Properties for £15 million in February to reduce its debts.

Prior to the sell-off Spring Ram had won a planning appeal to build five retail units to house stores selling the products similar to those planned by Edge Properties.

The application had to go to appeal because the Council objected to the two factories being pulled down.

Planning officers argued they could be re-used by other companies, especially at a time when there was a desperate shortage of industrial units in such prime locations in Kirklees.

But Spring Ram said it moved out of the buildings because they were unsuitable for anything other than warehouses and were surrounded by retailers.

No one was available for comment at Grantchester.

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