A DECISION on plans for a major new commercial development in Keighley has been deferred.

Bradford Council's Regulatory and Appeals Committee chose to delay a vote on whether permission should be granted for the project off Royd Ings Avenue, after committee members said there was not enough information available.

The development could create hundreds of jobs and cost millions of pounds to build on the 26.4 acre site.

The land consists of green fields between the A629 bypass to the west and the River Aire to the east, directly north of a turning circle at the western end of Keighley Industrial Park.

Firm PH Holdings submitted the plans, with the main structures and access road due to be elevated on stilts to allow the site to be retained as flood storage.

But Bradford planning officers invited councillors to refuse planning permission after the highways department said some aspects of the application still needed to be clarified.

This development was first announced in February of this year, and if approved it would comprise eight large commercial buildings.

A detailed design statement, put together by the applicant's agent Michael Ainsworth Design Partnership, says that the site will be landscaped to minimise the visual impact of the buildings.

It adds: "The buildings will have a total footprint of 43,960 square metres.

"Proposed means of access will be from the existing highway on Royd Ings Industrial estate, and will comprise the principal and only vehicular access to and from the site.

"Pedestrian access is also from this point."