Dewsbury apartment plan for former college building to go before panel

Planners are to consider designs for the conversion into apartments of the former Batley College of Art.
By Tony Earnshaw - Local Democracy Reporter
Published 23rd Jan 2020, 15:57 GMT
Updated 23rd Jan 2020, 16:03 GMT
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The iconic building, now known as the Wheelwright Centre, was sold off by Kirklees College following a £3m investment in a new campus in Dewsbury.

Developer MMR Construction Ltd wants to demolish a flat-roofed 1960s extension to the Wheelwright Centre and to convert the main building plus a 1980s extension.

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It would become 18 one-bed apartments, 39 two-bed apartments and three studio apartments.

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Proposals have been put forward by MMR Construction to convert the Wheelwright Centre building in Dewsbury (Picture by LDR service)Proposals have been put forward by MMR Construction to convert the Wheelwright Centre building in Dewsbury (Picture by LDR service)
Proposals have been put forward by MMR Construction to convert the Wheelwright Centre building in Dewsbury (Picture by LDR service)

A fifth would be affordable units.

At a meeting of Kirklees Council’s Strategic Planning Committee (Jan 23) members will be asked to comment on the proposed design of the site, on Birkdale Road in Dewsbury, as well as highways and transport issues, landscaping, drainage and flood risk.

Built in 1891 as Wheelwright Grammar School for Boys it became the Batley and District New Technical, Science and Art School in 1893. It eventually morphed into Batley Technical College and School of Art and Crafts.

In 1949 it amalgamated with Dewsbury Technical College to become Dewsbury and Batley Technical and Art College. Dewsbury College opened in 1987.

Kirklees College was formed in 2008 via the merging of Dewsbury College and Huddersfield Technical College

Related topics:DewsburyKirklees Council