Council’s hunt for development sites to support employment growth

Bradford Council is asking agents, landowners and developers to put forward sites from across the district that may be suitable for future employment.

The council’s recently published Core Strategy Preferred Options has identified the need for at least 60 hectares of land suitable for “Business use”, to help achieve greater economic growth over the next 17 years.

Business use includes offices, research and development facilities and general industrial purposes such as manufacturing and production activities.

Agents, landowners and developers with potentially suitable sites, are asked to put them forward to the council for consideration over the next seven weeks, in time for the end of the consultation on the Core Strategy.

Sites will be assessed for suitability, availability and deliverability. All the usual planning rules and permissions will also need to be followed.

Councils are required by the Government to carry out a detailed review of employment need and land supply. These reviews are prepared to ensure the Core Strategy is based on a good understanding of existing business needs, likely changes in the market, the current employment land position and the potential future supply of employment land.

Through the review, Bradford Council has identified four key areas across the district where it is looking to for land most appropriate to boost employment.

The areas identified by the review are east and north east Keighley, Ilkley and Wharfe Valley, north and north East Bradford (including Apperley Bridge, Greengates, Thorpe Edge) and south east Bradford (including Holme Wood and Tong).

Councillor Alex Ross-Shaw, Bradford Council’s Executive Member for Regeneration, Planning and Transport said: “This is a vital piece of work for us, so that we can identify land for future economic growth and ensure we can deliver the 1,600 jobs per annum the district needs. We’re keen to work with landowners and developers to map out potential sites and be clear about where development could take place in future.”

Marianne McCallum, Chairman of Bradford Chamber of Commerce Property Forum, said: “It’s clear that in order for Bradford’s business community to fulfill its potential and play a full part in our economic growth, that more good quality sites are needed.

“We therefore urge agents, landowners and any others who can play a part, to come forward with potential land sites that can be considered for future development. Bradford is on an upward trajectory and landowners can support that by making sites available now.”

People or organisations with land that they think may be suitable are invited to submit their proposals using the council’s online form. Further information, including criteria and guidance is available at: https://www.bradford.gov.uk/planning-and-building-control/planning-policy/evidence-base/?Folder=Call+for+Sites