Keighley's latest £8 million retail development is on course for a grand opening in mid-October.

Dozens of new jobs will be created as household-name stores move in. Halfords, Comet and Allied Carpets have already signed up for the development - on the old Trico foundry site at Hard Ings Road. Deals for two more of the units are in solicitors' hands.

Halfords plans to open a new superstore with about 15 extra jobs created. The existing Halfords town-centre store will close, and all staff there will be given the option of moving to the new premises.

A spokesman says: "It will be a totally new shopping experience for Keighley people more familiar with the small High Street-type store in town."

Old industrial buildings on the prominent site have been demolished to make way for the new development, and a new access created from Hard Ings Road. The new retail park will have seven large shop units totalling 61,500 sq ft.

Only two of the units are still available, but agents DTZ Debenham Thorpe are confident they will be taken before the builders leave the site.

DTZ retail director Rupert Thornton says: "We are very pleased at the progress being made. Allied Carpets have taken an 8,000 sq ft unit, Halfords 7,500 sq ft and Comet 10,000 sq ft. We are expecting to be able to make an announcement on two more of 10,000 sq ft each very soon, which only leaves 16,000 sq ft available. We are negotiating with various parties over the remainder, which could make two or three units. We are confident it will all be let before completion."

DTZ are joint agents for the site with Baker Stollery Wrightson.

Leeds-based design and build contractors GMI Construction Group say the scheme will be well laid out and attractively landscaped. There will be parking for 318 cars, including disabled persons' parking, as well as bicycle stands. Technical director Stephen Pollard says the shops will be of eye-catching appearance, utilising both traditional and modern materials, with plenty of colour and lots of glass covered walkways.

He says: "Keighley Retail Park will be the 15th large shopping scheme we have built - quite a landmark in the same year we were awarded the accolade of Best Yorkshire Building Contractor."

As part of the project, developers GMI Rovinian Ltd are donating a large new children's play area off Trinity Street, which will be provided with modern safe play equipment for use by local youngsters. Director David Pollock says the whole scheme represents an investment value of £8 million, including demolition and clearance work.

Architects for the scheme are Philip Lees and Associates of Leeds.

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