Cabinet have discussed progression of plans for housing growth in Kirklees
Overall, our current programme should deliver more than 2,000 new homes by 2030. Work has already begun to deliver around 800 of these new homes, including two Extra Care schemes which will provide supported housing for older people.
What did Cabinet discuss?
Cabinet discussions specifically focussed on developments at Dewsbury Riverside and Fenay Lane in Almondbury. Both developments are set to deliver more affordable housing for Kirklees, and form an important part of the council’s overall housing growth programme.
Dewsbury Riverside
The development at Dewsbury Riverside is the largest planned housing development in Kirklees, and will singlehandedly create thousands of new homes long-term – along with the corresponding infrastructure, such as shops, schools and green spaces.
Cabinet discussed proposed next steps for Dewsbury Riverside, relating to collaboration with other local landowners and with Network Rail, whose development of Ravensthorpe Railway Station as part of the Transpennine Route Upgrade will help support development around the Dewsbury Riverside site.
Discussions also covered the appointment of a master developer for Dewsbury Riverside. While multiple developers will be involved longer-term due to the scale of the project, this master developer would oversee the full site and lead on initial planning and construction. They would also work with other developers looking to build housing on the site, to ensure the end result meets the council’s specifications and the local need, and support the council’s work with Homes England and the West Yorkshire Combined Authority in sourcing further potential funding for the project.
Fenay Lane in Almondbury
Meanwhile, the site on Fenay Lane in Almondbury has the capacity to deliver around 160 new homes.
Cabinet discussed the sale of this land to a strategically selected housing provider for development. This would allow a well-resourced development partner to deliver homes on the Fenay Lane site without further financial investment from us.
The provider would be selected based on their priorities for development being closely aligned with ours – maximising the number of affordable homes, and making sure all new housing is energy efficient – and would be approved by Homes England.
Cabinet also discussed whether or not to approve grant funding to support the delivery of housing growth across Kirklees. This funding approval will allow multiple projects to move forward with delivery of new housing, including Dewsbury Riverside.
Councillor Graham Turner, Cabinet Member for Finance & Regeneration, says:
“Right now we must keep looking to the future, working towards our goals and investing in more quality residences for local people. We’re set to create well over 2,000 new homes by 2030, and the Dewsbury Riverside development alone will create thousands by the time work is completed – not to mention more shops and schools alongside.
“It’s no secret we’re facing not just a local but a national shortage of housing, and affordable housing is a particular priority for us in Kirklees. As a council, we do our best with every development to go above and beyond the government’s minimum requirements for affordable housing, and these sites will be no exception.
“Now Cabinet has approved these plans, it will allow us to move forward with crucial developments, and with a clear and well thought-out strategy for housing growth in Kirklees.”