Ambtious plans to build a 290-home scheme next to the Salts Mill World Heritage Site in Saltaire on the outskirts of Bradford have got the planning green light.

Leeds-based developer Artisan Real Estate aims to build the Saltaire Village on an 11-acre site, sandwiched between the River Aire and the Leeds & Liverpool Canal, which was formerly home to an HMRC office complex.

As well as homes, it will also build more than 5,000 sq ft of small commercial office space designed for flexible working and a café facing on to a new ‘pocket’ park and piazza.

Artisan’s scheme will demolish the existing seven-storey HMRC building which consists of two large hexagonal office blocks, with a construction start on site forecast for early 2024.

James Bulmer, Development Director for Artisan said: “This is a hugely exciting development that will spectacularly open up a large riverside area that has effectively been closed to the public since the 1970s when the HMRC complex was built.

“Our proposals for Saltaire Riverside herald another significant addition to Artisan’s enviable list of sensitive regeneration projects, in highly desirable and historic regional locations across the UK.

“From our regional office bases, we are creating dynamic investment platforms to deliver transformational and sustainable development to the benefit of our towns and cities – and the people who live, visit and work in them.

“With these pioneering projects and investment, Artisan has the opportunity to turn the development spotlight firmly on high-quality and sustainable city centre regional development across the UK.”