PLANS for a new shopping park on the site of the defunct £30 million Worth Valley Shopping Centre project will be unveiled this summer.

Leading developer UandI has pledged to reveal details soon of its proposed development, now dubbed the Aire Valley Retail Park, on East Parade.

Local councillors reacted with delight this week to learn progress was being made on bringing the derelict wasteland back into use.

The news came almost exactly five years after Bradford Council gave planning permission – now lapsed – for developer Stainsby Grange to build a complex featuring 14 shops, an eight-screen cinema and restaurants.

Stainsby Grange, who were unable to attract high-profile tenants to make the project feasible, last year sold the site to UandI, which has a £4 billion UK property portfolio including shopping centres, homes, a brewery and a visitor centre.

UandI this week issued a brief statement in response to a Keighley News request, stating: “We are pleased to be progressing plans for the site, but no further information is available immediately. We will be in touch later this summer with the details.”

Keighley West councillor Adrian Farley, chairman of the council’s powerful regeneration and economy scrutiny committee, said he was eager to hear UandI’s proposals for the East Parade site.

He said: “As chairman of regeneration I asked that council officers were available and willing to work with them, and that’s continued.”

Progress on the site was also welcomed by the three councillors who represent Keighley Central ward, where the site lies.

One of them, Cllr Abid Hussain, the new Lord Mayor of, Bradford, said: “We would love to get a new shopping centre to give people an opportunity to shop in the town centre instead of going outside Keighley.”

Keighley Central councillor Khadim Hussain was pleased UandI was preparing to come forward with a competitive plan.

He added: “This will not only create jobs, but it will bring a feelgood factor. We want that site to be developed –‘s in the heart of Keighley.”

Ward councillor Zafar Ali said it was vital UandI revealed its full plans as soon as possible to dispel the “doom and gloom”.

He added: “If they made a positive announcement I think the people of Keighley would look at the project positively too. At the moment no one is aware.”

Cllr Andrew Mallinson, a member of the regeneration committee, criticised the council for not keeping local councillors informed what it was doing to help push the project forward.

He added: “It’s about having the infrastructure ready, which is a huge part of the jigsaw. It will also instil confidence in any retailer thinking of coming on board if they know the council is playing its part.”