DETAILED plans for how millions of pounds of funding for projects in Keighley – and neighbouring Shipley – will be spent are finally to be submitted to the Government next month, almost two years after the cash was first announced.

The first 'business cases' for projects that will benefit from the Government's Towns Fund are currently being finalised, with the initial waves of cash likely to be awarded in March.

The funding will see Keighley receive £33 million and Shipley £25m, and proposals have been drawn-up for schemes ranging from a new wetlands site to a health and wellbeing hub.

News that Keighley and Shipley would benefit from the Towns Fund was announced shortly before the general election in late 2019.

Towns Fund boards – made-up of local business leaders, councillors, community groups and the MP for each constituency – were set-up to decide how the cash would be spent.

This summer the Government announced that it was impressed enough with the proposals that Shipley would get £25m and Keighley £33m – the fifth highest amount paid to any of the 100 successful areas nationally.

At a meeting of Bradford Council's executive today, members will be given an update on the funding and when work on the multiple schemes is likely to begin.

Projects proposed for Keighley include:

* A £14 million fund to restore and repurpose buildings and redevelop sites for commercial and residential use

* Public realm and transport infrastructure improvements (£2.39m)

* A new skills hub for the town (£910,000)

* A training hub specialising in manufacturing and engineering skills (£3m)

* A creative arts hub (£2.6m)

* Support for the Keighley Arts and Film Festival (£240,000), and

* A health and wellbeing hub, earmarked for the former Keighley College site (£3.4m)

The business cases for the investment fund, arts hub and Arts and Film Festival funding will be submitted next month.

Projects proposed for Shipley include the setting-up of a £7 million fund to restore and repurpose buildings and redevelop sites for commercial and residential use, improvements to Shipley Market Square (£5m), developing a new Community Art and Future Technology Centre (£5.39m), the creation of an enterprise hub in Shipley Library (£80,000), a health and wellbeing hub (£3m) and the creation of a new public wetlands at Wrose Quarry, which will include new recreation facilities (£70,000).

Business cases for all the projects need to be submitted to the Government by June.