Keyland Developments Ltd has gained planning approval from Kirklees Council for an industrial development comprising circa 400,000 sq ft of employment space on a 57 acre former water treatment works site in West Yorkshire which could bring about some 800 new jobs. The redundant North Bierley Water Treatment Works site, which is strategically positioned at a major intersection of the M62 Transpennine motorway and the M606 Bradford Link in West Yorkshire, has lain dormant since 2010. Keyland’s plans to transform the site into a major commercial scheme have been given the green light, giving a boost to the local and regional economy with the unlocking of land for new development and subsequent job creation. Keyland has worked closely with Kirklees Council to design a well-considered scheme to make a positive contribution to the long-term economic regeneration of the area. The circa 400,000 sq ft of industrial and associated ancillary office space approved for development is split in a ratio of 30% as B2 general industrial use and 70% B8 storage and distribution usage. Additionally, a separate application for a new school car park is in the planning process with Bradford Council. The range of unit sizes is intended to address the severe regional shortage of new industrial accommodation. Early research undertaken by Keyland indicated that nearby business parks in North Kirklees and South Bradford, as well as the wider regional area, are operating at full capacity. This has the knock-on effect of limited opportunities for local and regionally based businesses to expand within the area. The approval of the plans for North Bierley should assist with the retention of local and regional businesses. Peter Garrett, Managing Director of Keyland Developments Ltd, said; “Securing approval to bring back into use the strategically important North Bierley site is an excellent result and we are delighted that such an extensive and well-located site will now be able to achieve its full potential. The demand for new industrial and distribution space to support the growing needs of regional businesses is well documented and, in addition to facilitating some 800 new jobs, this scheme can protect the long-term needs of local and regional occupiers and potentially welcome inward investment to the area.” Keyland Developments Ltd is the property trading arm of Kelda Group and sister company to Yorkshire Water. Keyland has been operating across Yorkshire for over 20 years, regenerating Yorkshire Water’s redundant sites. In addition to its work transforming former Yorkshire Water land, the team also works alongside independent landowners, corporates or regulated bodies to overcome obstacles to development on strategic sites in order to facilitate regeneration by securing planning consent for future use. Turley submitted the North Bierley planning application on behalf of Keyland Developments.