MORE than 90 residents turned out to view McCarthy and Stone’s proposed redevelopment of the former Spooner Industries Factory at Mayfield Road in Ilkley.

The public exhibition, held on November 3 and 4, unveiled a multi-million-pound regeneration project that would include retirement living, assisted living accommodation, a care home, office building, a children’s nursery and an extension to the existing Spooner Industries factory.

McCarthy and Stone would construct and manage the 44 retirement living apartments, designed for the active elderly, alongside the 56 assisted living apartments that would offer more on-site care and support, as required.

Steve Secker, regional managing director for McCarthy and Stone (North East Region), said: “We’d like to thank residents for taking the time to visit our exhibition and provide the project team with their feedback.

"This is an important site in Ilkley that has been left disused for too long. It is clear the community would like to see something done with the land and, having already received a number of sales enquiries, we’re confident there is a demand for this specialist accommodation in Ilkley.”

To date, 68 per cent of respondents to the pre-application consultation are supportive of the plans.

McCarthy and Stone is working closely with Spooner Industries, which has been operating in Ilkley since the 1930s. If the plans are approved, the company will benefit from an extension to the existing factory, including about 134 new parking spaces.

Spooner Industries Limited managing director, Michael Brook, said: “This proposal would allow us to remain in Ilkley and build on our current success, creating new jobs in the town and apprenticeship opportunities for local students.”

If a planning application is approved, the office and care home elements of the development would be built by Leeds-based developer Oakapple Group.

Oakapple group chairman, Phillip Taylor, said: “We’re excited at the prospect of delivering a high-quality development at this prominent location. Our discussions with potential occupiers of the office space and a number of care home providers demonstrate strong demand in Ilkley.”

McCarthy and Stone expects to submit a planning application before Christmas, which is likely to be considered by Bradford Council in spring 2016. People who were unable to attend the exhibition can view the proposals at mccarthyandstone-consultation.co.uk/ilkleymayfieldroad or call for more information on the project’s Freephone information line on 0800 2987040.

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