Council unveilsnew jobs and housing plan

Kirklees Council cabinet has agreed to consult the public on new plans that could see thousands of new jobs, houses and business space created by 2028.

The LDF is the council’s strategic approach to boosting the fortunes of towns across the district - including Batley, Dewsbury and the Spen Valley. In total 27,891 new homes would be built in Kirklees by 2028.

In north Kirklees 55 hectares of land have been earmarked for new businesses and offices. This could create up to 3,500 new jobs in Cleckheaton, Birstall and Chidswell - on the Huddersfield-Mirfield border - with improved transport links over the Pennines and via the M62.

The council expect 11,967 new homes will be built in the northern region of Kirklees over the next 28 years, with Dewsbury expected to have 6,420 new builds. In the Spen Valley there would be 2,363 new homes and a further 2,109 in Birstall and Batley. Mirfield would have 1,075 new houses.

The leaders of Labour, Liberal Democrats and the Green Party have backed the new plans, which are a departure from unpopular proposals put forward two years ago.

Council leader Coun Mehboob Khan said: “Without such a framework in place, it will be difficult in the future to protect the areas we want to protect and ensure that development for homes and businesses is appropriate.

“What is important now is that members of the public take the opportunity to shape this vital document.”

A Kirklees Tory party spokeswoman welcomed the changes that put planning powers in the hands of local councils.

She said: “Whilst we accept the need for more housing, we remain unconvinced that the figure of 26,000 houses is the right number needed to be developed over the period.”

The Tory group also voiced concerns on whether the plan had the right mix of land allocation and new houses would ensure ‘the right quality and social mix of housing’ for the borough.

Dewsbury MP Simon Reevell said: “We need to look at the infrastructure of these villages and ensure that they can cope with the new developments. That’s why this consultation is so important.

“It needs to be a proper consultation which accurately reflects people’s views.”

The consultation will run from Monday until February 6, with documents available from town halls, Mirfield Library and Birstall Information Point.