A BUSINESS which staged a public consultation into its proposals to develop a dairy in Stockbridge has now submitted a formal planning application to Bradford Council.

Grassington-based Dales Dairies wants to create new jobs by developing a major new facility at the vacant, 11,000-square-metre Aireworth Distribution Centre, off Aireworth Road, Keighley.

If approved the premises would house a dairy processing, packaging and distribution operation on the site between Garforth Road and Marland Road.

The initial plans were broadly welcomed by Keighley councillors when revealed to the public at the consultation in February this year.

A design statement submitted as part of the planning application explains that Dales Dairies has outgrown its existing base and needs a new home in order to continue expanding.

It notes that the dairy is asking for permission to operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week at this site, in order to safeguard the business's long term investment and expansion plans.

The statement adds: "The dairy currently employs 50 staff, all of which would move with the business to the new site should planning approval be granted.

"The business operates a single shift, and an increase in operational hours would result in a significant increase in the level of employment.

"Current employment is a mix of genders, ethnicities, skill and management levels and these would all increase with the operational increases.

"The proposed demolition and development will result in a minimal visual impact.

"This site sits within an industrial area on the outskirts of Keighley. The Airevalley Road Transport Corridor runs adjacent to the site, and a proposed

erection of storage tanks is similar in scale and impact of other developments along this corridor.

"The proposed tanks will have the greatest level of visual impact when travelling along the A650 from the east."

Milk would be delivered to the dairy using large tanker vehicles, and would be stored in the new tanks at the southern end of the site.

The applicant says these tanks are to be built close to the existing property, and would protrude between 1.5 and 2.5 metres above the roofline.

The development would include a small effluent treatment plant to handle waste "washwater" from the dairy. There would also be a cold storage area, offices and a vehicle workshop.

Parking space will be made available for between 81 and 97 cars and 28 and 44 heavy goods vehicles.

A transport statement accompanying the application concludes that the surrounding road network and vehicle access points are capable of accommodating a facility of this size.

The proposals are now being considered by Bradford Council planning officers.