Building work to complete the first phase of work at Providence Park industrial site in Keighley town centre is on course for completion by October this year.
The development of the former Universal Mills site, on the corner of Dalton Lane and Bradford Road, began in April 2023 and has received funding through the Government’s Keighley Towns Fund.
As well as housing industrial units, part of the site will be used by Keighley College as a Manufacturing, Engineering and Future Technologies Hub. The hub will be used to provide students with academic and practical experience, and achieve T-level qualifications.
Work is progressing well on the five buildings which will house the units – the smallest of which is 150 square metres with the largest at 828 square metres – and has included: the demolition of previous buildings and structures; full site remediation; installation of surface water management system; and the construction of units to let.
Part of the original mill building has also been retained and sympathetically converted to a unit suitable for a café or other retail use.
Tim Rogers, chair of the Keighley Towns Fund, said: “This is another very exciting commercial development for Keighley, and an incredible skills and training opportunity for the town through the creation of the Manufacturing, Engineering and Future Technologies Hub in partnership with Keighley College.
“We believe across the site between 80 to 100 jobs will be created, which is a real boost during the current economic climate, and we anticipate local businesses will be keen to link up with the hub to provide apprenticeships.”
The Keighley Towns Fund has set aside £6.5m towards the £12m re-development of the 7,000 square metre site.
Bradford Council’s Executive Member for Planning, Regeneration and Transport Alex Ross-Shaw said: “Demand for employment sites is huge across Keighley and the whole of the Aire Valley so this development is much needed and welcomed.
“The properties have full solar panel coverage and air source heat pumps which will provide sustainable heat and hot water across the site.
“There is some work still to complete such as some internal works to each unit, fencing and gates, final surfacing of parking areas and the installation of EV charging points but it is on course to finish as scheduled.”
Once the initial phase is finished in October this year, the college unit is to due to be completed by early 2025.
