New allotments pave the way for large housing development in Dewsbury
We’ve just created a new allotment site on Ravensthorpe Road in Dewsbury. While this might sound like a relatively small development by itself, there are lots of benefits to local people. These allotments will pave the way for a much larger development very nearby!
The bigger picture
These allotments have replaced ones on a nearby site – land which we’ve allocated for housing in the Kirklees Local Plan.
Relocating these allotments will now allow us to progress with the Dewsbury Riverside Housing development. Which should create about 4,000 new homes! We’ll also be creating the supporting infrastructure for these new homes – like schools, nice open spaces and local facilities.
This is the largest development of its kind currently planned for Kirklees, which will greatly help to address a local and national housing shortage.
Because this housing development is so important, and because there a lot of proven benefits to allotment gardening for local people, we committed to relocate the allotments that were already on that site – which have been well used by local nature and gardening enthusiasts – before we started work on the housing development.
The allotments
Alongside the benefits of a big new housing development, there are big benefits to the allotment site itself.
Allotment gardening has been shown to help with people’s physical health and mental wellbeing. Furthermore, it encourages regular exercise and more time spent outdoors. Allotments can also enable people to grow their own produce, and to eat more healthily more cheaply.
The new allotment site has almost doubled in size with the move. There are now a total of 43 large plots, compared to a previous 25. Many of these plots have brand new sheds and greenhouses, replacing those owned by allotment holders who have moved with the site. All have access to running water onsite, and a brand new car park’s been created for the allotment holders to use. We’ve also replaced plants from the previous site like for like.
Many of these new allotments are already occupied by tenants from the previous site, and we’re anticipating that many more plots will be taken up over the coming months as we have high waiting lists for allotments across Kirklees!
You can add yourself to the waiting list for an allotment on our website.
Supporting local industry
We employed a local construction firm, the Casey Group, to work on the development of the new allotment site. This included a lot of landscaping and the laying of underground pipes for the water supply.
We also undertook a lot of the work in-house rather than contracting out. This included complex drainage improvements to make sure the allotments hold up in all weather conditions, and installation of the concrete bases for the new sheds and greenhouses.
What this means is that the cost of this development goes straight back into local industry, and supports our local economy.
We’ve also prioritised social value (bringing more benefits to local people and communities) throughout this project – like supporting local construction workers to complete industry apprenticeships. Investing in our local talent pool like this will further support our local economy for years to come.
Councillor Shabir Pandor, Leader of Kirklees Council, says:
“The completion of these allotments is the first step to delivering what’s currently our most ambitious housing project for Kirklees. What we’re looking to do here is create not just more housing but a community, with all the additional infrastructure that entails.
“While the relocation of these allotments has been a relatively small-scale project in itself, it’s opened so many doors. Alongside paving the way for the new housing development, we’ve also supported local industry and our local talent pool throughout the construction work – and it’s resulted in a new outdoor space which will mean a lot to the local community.
“We now want the larger-scale project to continue driving value back into our local economy, while also creating thousands of new homes at a time when, nationally, we’re in desperate need.”
Councillor Graham Turner, Cabinet Member for Growth & Regeneration, says:
“The new allotment site is fantastic, and I’ve been really pleased to speak to a local allotment holder who has been tending his plot every single day since the site opened. In a matter of weeks, these spaces already look so full, individual and lived-in.
“There are proven benefits to these kind of spaces for people’s mental and physical wellbeing, and allotments also give people the ability to grow their own fresh produce. I believe this is something that’s going to benefit a lot of people for years to come, and when you take a step back and see the bigger picture, there are so many other wins here as well.
“Onto the next step – we’re now scoping potential contractors who will help us deliver our ambitious housing development at Dewsbury Riverside, hopefully both at pace and in a way that complements our green agenda.”