House building programme set to deliver more than 2,000 homes by 2030

Kirklees Council has outlined how it intends to tackle the district’s housing shortage over the next six years.

Its current programme aims to deliver more than 2,000 new homes by 2030.

The council says work has already begun to deliver around 800 of these homes, including two Extra Care schemes which will provide supported housing for older people.

Major development sites include Dewsbury Riverside and Fenay Lane in Almondbury.

Fenay Lane has the capacity to deliver around 160 new homes. Senior Kirklees councillors have discussed selling this land to a housing provider for development.

Dewsbury Riverside is the largest planned housing development in Kirklees, and is expected to eventually accommodate about 4,000 new homes – along with the corresponding infrastructure, such as shops, schools and green spaces.

The council says it is looking to appoint a master developer for Dewsbury Riverside. It explains that 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.

Councillor Graham Turner, cabinet member for finance & regeneration, said: “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.”