Airedale Corridors a Masterplan & Strategy for Airedale Rural Airedale Airedale Corridors a Masterplan & Strategy for Airedale
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Airedale Corridors A Masterplan & Strategy for Airedale Rural Airedale Airedale Corridors A Masterplan & Strategy for Airedale Contents 1.0 Positioning Airedale Positioning Foreword 1 Imagine a Summer Evening in Airedale 2020 3 1.0 Positioning Airedale 5 1.1 Introduction 5 1.2 Where & What Is Airedale? 7 1.3 What Made Airedale the Place It Is? 9 1.4 What Is the State of Airedale? 13 1.5 What Do the People of Airedale Think? 21 2.0 1.6 What Is the Strategic Policy & Context For Airedale? 23 1.7 What Could Be the Role of Airedale? 27 Airedale Vision For 2.0 Vision For Airedale 29 2.1 The Rural Backdrop 31 2.2 Creative Corridor 33 2.3 Connected Corridor 35 2.4 Lifestyle Corridor 37 3.0 Places For Change 39 3.1 Principles for Change 39 3.0 3.2 Preparing the Rural Backdrop 41 3.3 Keighley – A Town of Heritage & Innovation 43 3.4 Bingley – A Distinctive Market Town with a Creative Edge 55 Change Places For 3.5 Shipley – An International Gateway to Airedale 61 3.6 Strategic Areas 71 4.0 Making Change Happen 77 4.1 Delivery 77 4.2 Short Term Interventions 2005 – 2008 81 4.3 Medium Term Interventions 2008 – 2012 83 4.4 Long Term Interventions 2012 – 2020 85 4.5 Priority Projects 87 4.0 4.6 Closing Statement 99 Making Change Happen “The Vision is deliberately ambitious. The scenario it paints is one of excellence, not adequacy. Building upon the current level of fi nancial, human and other resources available to the District, it will be achieved.” Airedale Corridors A Masterplan & Strategy for Airedale Foreword 1.0 Positioning Airedale Positioning Arup and a team of supporting consultants were The masterplan for Bradford city centre identifi ed Through our consultation we have talked to people, appointed in April 2004 by the Airedale Partnership, Airedale as a major employment corridor focused on developed ideas, listened to their views and adjusted City of Bradford District Council and Yorkshire Forward high-tech companies and digital communications, with these ideas. Above all, we have been asked to identify to develop a masterplan and strategy for Airedale. a range of high-quality residential areas and a World interventions that will deliver a step-change in the The principal of this masterplan is to identify the key Heritage Site, set amongst attractive landscapes along performance of Airedale, in line with the aspirations of interventions that would assist in the regeneration of the River Aire. We agree, but have set out to fi nd out local people and the Bradford 2020 Vision. We have Airedale in a sustainable and integrated way. This large more, and to determine what is distinctive and special created a masterplan which is about delivering realistic geographical area straddling the River Aire forms a about Airedale. and practical solutions that will benefi t businesses broad corridor that runs through the heart of Bradford and people in Airedale, which will also support wider 2.0 Airedale is not a corridor in the sense of a place to pass District between Bradford city centre to the south and regeneration and planning objectives. From our through, but a place where delightful views and curious Wharfedale to the north. Airedale’s infl uence extends discussions with business leaders, local authorities, Airedale Vision For places open up to either side. The more you look, the beyond Bradford District, being a vital component of the government agencies and developers, we are confi dent more the attachment to this fascinating area grows. Leeds City Region, as outlined in the Regional Spatial that this will be achieved. Strategy, and potentially as an important link in the Offi ce The greatest asset for Airedale is the high-quality of its of the Deputy Prime Minister’s Northern Way initiative. rural landscape. This landscape, in effect, forms the “raw material” for Airedale that will secure the economy As identifi ed in the Bradford 2020 Vision, Airedale always of the future. Understanding how this raw material can has been, and remains, a place for employment and be developed and worked to the maximum benefi t of living. It has an attractive, and sometimes outstanding, the economy is a key to the future of Airedale. rural landscape, it is the home of several world-class companies and contains three very signifi cant tourist The greatest challenge for Airedale is arriving at a 3.0 attractions in Saltaire World Heritage Site, Keighley and balance between the needs of local employment and Worth Valley Railway and Brontë Parsonage. Our brief commuters, and local people and visitors. Airedale is Change Places For is clear; to identify what should be done to deliver the an attractive place in which to live, and the demand for aspirational Bradford 2020 Vision for Airedale. residential property is rising. This rising tide should not be resisted but harnessed and channelled to deliver Airedale works, but it could be so much better! This economic change in Airedale. masterplan is focused on the economy and is about “raising the bar” for Airedale so that its economy Airedale also has problems and tensions which continues to deliver benefi ts to local people, Bradford are testing the character of its communities. This and the region. It is about identifying an appropriate masterplan sets out to create a framework for strategic role for Airedale within the City Region and cohesive communities through shared experiences of reinforcing what it does so well already. Our job is to employment, education, leisure and culture. 4.0 put Airedale on the map and to support the future role it deserves. Making Change Happen 1 Keighley Bingley Shipley Airedale Corridors A Masterplan & Strategy for Airedale Imagine a Summer Evening in Airedale 2020 1.0 Positioning Airedale Positioning Keighley Gresley Road Park Bingley Jubilee Gardens Restaurant Balcony Shipley College Knowledge Exchange Café “There’s another one, Grandad,” said Rory, watching “That’s the way we will go,” said Naseem, as she “You know, Peter, I like it here.” said Helena, as she the salmon leap up the fi sh ladder on the River Worth at marked on the map the route of the next Airedale town leaned back in his chair and looked down over Shipley Keighley. and country fell race for 2021, overlooking the river and Interchange and the wooded valley beyond. Holme House Wood beyond. “Do they have them in Bradford Beck, Grandad?” “Since we started this company next to the Advanced “Gosh! That’s a bit mean taking them up through the Digital Institute business has grown so fast, but this “No, lad, they just have trout in Bradford; too many woods,” said Jennifer. place has grown fast on me too.” crayfi sh for salmon, or so they say.” “Yes, but it gets another forgotten section of footpath “What do you like about it?” asked Peter. 2.0 “Come on, Rory, let’s walk down the river and meet restored. We also need to make it a really tough course your Dad coming out from the National Restoration “I think it’s the hills, the river, the moors and the woods. this year. Silsden have got a great chance to win this Airedale Vision For Centre. He said they had got one of the fi rst Croydon I like being able to cycle down the canal towpath to time round, and Keighley have got a good team in too; trams in for tidying up. Perhaps we could have a look at work in the morning and, of course, the Landlord at the and they certainly aren’t going to take the cup off us.” it. It only seems like yesterday when they were put in.” Shipley Pride.” “So, let’s go through it again. We drop from Idle down “Hey look! He’s coming now,” said Grandad. “You’re right, sometimes I forget just how lucky we are. the old railway line, along the river path to Saltaire, Will you move over here permanently?” “Dad!” go up to Shipley Glen, down to Dowley Gap Country “I think so. Henrik likes the farmers’ market in Shipley, “Hi Rory, Dad, fancy a cup of tea and fat rascal at Park, make our way up to St Ives, back down to Marley and the photography classes at the College, and Betty’s on Cavendish Street?” asked Dad. Nature Reserve, over the river up through East Morton and Sunny Dale to Rivock Edge; then, down through we like the look of the local school for the girls,” said “It’ll be busy; there’s an international nanotechnology the mountain biking centre at Rough Holden to the Helena. 3.0 conference at the North Street Hotel, and Betty’s will be canal, over the golf course to Utley railway station and “It’s doing well; came top of the league last year, so that full with hangers on,” said Grandad. Change Places For then up over to Goose Eye,” said Jennifer. can’t be bad.” said Peter. “Can we get a mango lassi up at the Temple Bazaar “You’re right,” said Naseem. “You should do it then” said Peter. “It’s easy to get back instead?” asked Rory. “I’ll be done in by then,” said Jennifer. “What about to Helsinki at the weekend; just hop on the train and fl y “Great idea, son. We could get some Turkish Delight for the guest team, Otley? They have a good hill-climbing over from Leeds Bradford.” your Gran at the Spice Market on the way.” team, with the Chevin and all that.” “Yes, we should move.