Brownfield site restored to create enterprise zone

The Parry Lane Enterprise Zone site is intended to boost investment and increase jobs in the area.

Despite lockdowns leading to sub-contractor and material shortages, the work at Parry Lane has been completed on time and within budget by the contractor, Balfour Beatty.

The project is the first in the district to deliver off site environmental improvements which will be required under the latest Environment Act. Planting trees, shrubs and wildflowers on a site at Douglas Road is designed to offset the loss of biodiversity within the development site.

The old Yorkshire Electricity Board depot was earmarked as an Enterprise Zone in 2016 and West Yorkshire Combined Authority provided £8.5m in funding from its Growth Deal and Getting Building Fund.

The site is now being marketed by joint agents Sanderson Weatherall and Eddisons

Bradford Councillor, Alex Ross Shaw, said: “The Parry Lane Enterprise Zone will provide much needed space for firms to invest and expand, and will boost local job opportunities.

“This is a great example of how brownfield sites can be redeveloped in a green and sustainable way, unleashing the potential of land which has remained vacant for many years.”

Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire, added: “It’s fantastic to see how funding from the West Yorkshire Combined Authority has helped to bring this vacant brownfield site back into use bringing investment, jobs and opportunities to Bradford.

“As we work towards a net zero carbon West Yorkshire by 2038, this project demonstrates how effective measures to absorb harmful emissions and offset any potential damage to biodiversity can be.”