Keighley's proposed vision and objectives

Vision: ‘You can make it in Keighley’

Keighley will continue to pride itself as a making town – celebrating the success of manufacturing and textiles and inspiring the people of Keighley to make, create and innovate.  Innovation will be encouraged within key high-growth sectors including advanced manufacturing, engineering and technology, bringing together industry and research, attracting new businesses within the town and supporting the expansion of existing businesses. 

The town centre will be regenerated to provide a mix of uses, combining a new health and leisure offer, and encouraging new food & beverage outlets as part of a Market/ Food Hall within a re-purposed Airedale Shopping Centre.  

Through this, Keighley will be repositioned as a destination hub, promoting and showcasing Keighley’s heritage assets, Keighley’s culture of film-making and the opportunity to create a heritage trail alongside new public squares and spaces to enhance Keighley’s attractiveness.  

Keighley’s draft vision is underpinned by a series of strategic objectives:

• Cultural-led regeneration – promoting the town’s existing heritage and cultural assets (both within the town centre and beyond) as a key part of Keighley’s future vision.
• A diversified town centre – Broadening the current mix of uses to address the contracting retail offer within the town centre – encouraging greater food & beverage, leisure, health and residential uses to create vibrancy and activity during the day time and evening, and creating a destination hub. 
• Promoting innovation and skills– Enhancing skills, expertise and innovation through harnessing Keighley’s existing network of manufacturing businesses – promoting new research, innovation, and growing the existing skills-base to support new employment opportunities.
• A well connected place – addressing the barriers to connectivity for walking and cycling across Keighley, and promoting greater use of public transport.
• A safe and inclusive town – Creating a safe and inclusive town centre, including the creation of overlooked and active public spaces to encourage activity, socialisation for all, providing new places for the community and visitors to enjoy.
• A green and healthy environment –Low carbon to be embedded into new development, to align with Bradford’s Clean Growth agenda, promoting sustainable travel solutions and improving access to Keighley’s countryside, rivers and Becks.  
• Community at its heart – Social value to be at the heart of regeneration – ensuring that future growth is inclusive,  creating positive outcomes for all, and fostering Keighley’s strong community spirit.