Consent secured for large mixed use scheme at former college site
Planning has been secured to kick-off a major regeneration project to be known as Trinity One, on a prominent gateway site in Huddersfield town centre.
The former Kirklees College site occupies about six acres of land fronting the ring road. The site is also home to the Grade II listed original Huddersfield Royal Infirmary which is to be retained.
The dilapidated 1960s college buildings are to be demolished and cleared and as part of the plans, Lidl GB will facilitate a modern, larger store featuring 127 car spaces, alongside 229 new build/conversion apartments and a HQ office building.
Lidl intends to eventually relocate its existing store on Castlegate to offer residents a greater selection of produce.
Contractors are appointed to start work imminently, beginning with demolition of the non-listed buildings in late summer 2022.
Contracts have been exchanged with Lidl GB, but the office and residential proposals for the balance of the site will be offered to market in September.
Paul Fox, director of Leeds-based property consultancy, Fox Lloyd Jones is acting as development manager for private clients. He said: “It’s a very exciting time now that proposals for this important gateway site are approved and committed, allowing us to expedite the long overdue redevelopment of this key strategic site.
“The commitment to knock down the outlying and non-listed buildings will really help to present the site in a better light given its visibility and prominence and in addition to the food store it presents a great opportunity for a modern town centre living or retirement scheme, alongside other possible uses in the listed building phase.
“These major regeneration schemes take time to deliver, and we are excited to think we are now so close to starting the demolition phase, which will transform the location and further add to the town centre offer and streetscape.”
A spokesman for Lidl GB added: “We are thrilled to confirm plans to bring a new store to Huddersfield, marking another milestone in our ambitious store expansion programme.
“We have invested significantly in the area over the last few years, both in terms of investing in our existing portfolio and through our planned new stores.
“We are firmly committed to helping boost the local economy by creating new jobs and working with local suppliers in the construction of the new store.”
