EDITOR'S CHOICE READER VIEWS Mayor's final message; well known cat killed ...readers say what they think WORTH VALLEY NEWS ‘Superhead’ Martin is all set to take on another challenging role KNIGHTS OUT Cullingworth comedians pull the other one MEMORY LANE Handsome structure was rebuilt AIRE VALLEY NEWS Mayor offers thanks to colleagues CARTOONS View our Hambone, every day! Or view our Honeyball! GET OUR NEWS BY E-MAIL Just register

Most read Comments 1 Two arrested over burglary 2 Family left to mourn as search starts for burglar 3 Jailed drug dealer has £33,000 assets seized 4 Dealer’s £250 drug stash leads to custody 5 Ten residents at care home are given two weeks to find new accommodation 6 Sex claims man stays in custody 7 Couple say ‘I do’ to 1940s wedding plan 8 Look-out left prints at scene 9 ‘Black magic’ led to cricket-bat murder 10 ‘Embarrassing’ increase in complaints against councillors Today | 7 Days 1 Parents’ shock as school takes thumb scans 2 Councillor accused in washing line row 3 Group set to offer guidance for women

Comment | Read Comments (1)

Keighley Mayor Cllr Brian Hudson gets his hands on the controls of a digger watched by Brian Verity, of Skipton Properties, at the start of construction on the Grove Mills site

Construction work began on Tuesday at one of Keighley's most ambitious property developments.

Skipton Properties has already spent £6.5 million preparing the Grove Mills site in Ingrow for a scheme that will eventually comprise 175 houses and 60 flats.

This week Keighley mayor Councillor Brian Hudson helped the business's managing director, Brian Verity, make the initial dig where the foundations of the first houses will be built.

The £65 million development will transform the disused mill and its surroundings into a riverside complex of two, three and four-bedroom town houses and apartments.

Work on preparing the property began at the end of 2006 and has included building a new access route into Grove Mills from Halifax Road, as well as a road on the southern side of the site.

This part of the land needed to be raised by four metres before building work could begin, meaning huge amounts of hardcore had to be laid down.

Cllr Hudson said: "This is a landmark moment for Keighley, as it marks the start of building on the most ambitious ever redevelopment in the town.

"It represents a huge re-birth of the area.

"The regeneration of Grove Mills is of a size and scale that will, hopefully, act as a catalyst throughout the Worth Valley, paving the way for other schemes and providing a real boost to confidence in the area."

He added that with Bradford district expected to accommodate more homes than it had previously anticipated, making full use of brown field sites such as Grove Mills was all the more vital.

Mr Verity said: "We've had many changes in the design of the proposal to build here - totally due to market conditions.

"We removed plans for over 200 apartments and replaced them with two, three and four-bed terrace houses."

He said subject to the market, the building work was now expected to take about three years to complete.

8:27am Thursday 1st May 2008

Print

Email this

Comment