A HARECROFT chicken factory could remain in use after its current occupiers move out in the New Year, says the building’s owner.

Malcolm Barker said other companies were interested in moving into the food processing plant following the departure of current tenants Chesterfield Poultry.

He said he would take on a new tenant if his planning permission for housing on the site is refused by Bradford Council.

Mr Barker’s proposals to build 90 houses on the land off Station Road were outlined to residents by chartered surveyors David Hill at a public consultation meeting last Wednesday.

Councillors and residents have voiced cautious support for housing on the land, but are concerned any development could be four times the size of the existing factory, much of it on greenbelt land.

Mr Barker claimed the housing project would need to be that size to generate enough income to replace the money he had spent developing the factory.

Mr Barker said: “We have millions of pounds of investment in that factory. It is state-of-the-art. Our investment has been year-on-year – my grandfather started processing chicken there in 1935.

“We appreciate it causes nuisance in the village. Housing would be preferable to everyone concerned, certainly the residents. But we need to have a return on our investment.

“We do have two interested parties looking to take the factory on, waiting to see which way we jump."

The Harecroft facility has been has been used by Chesterfield Poultry for about 10 years, but the flourishing company was forced to seek new premises elsewhere because it was unable to expand any further on the present site.

The 109 current employees are expected to be offered jobs at the new plant in Doncaster, which is due to open in January.