Council seeks to unlock investment to support major strategic developments

Multi-million pound investment to support development in south east Calderdale will be considered at a meeting of Calderdale Council’s Cabinet.

At their next meeting on 12 February senior councillors will consider proposals for investment to enable new growth opportunities in and around Brighouse, which will support the delivery of the Local Plan for Calderdale.

New “garden communities” at Woodhouse in Rastrick and Thornhills in Brighouse, are a major part of the Local Plan for Calderdale which was adopted in March 2023.

Together, these developments have potential capacity to provide around 3,000 new homes, two primary schools and a range of community facilities.

The garden communities form part of a wider programme of transformation across south east Calderdale, which also includes the planned delivery of Clifton Business Park – the largest employment land allocation in the Local Plan.

Calderdale Council notes these strategic housing and employment sites together comprise a scale of development which is “locally unprecedented.”

It says they therefore require equally ambitious infrastructure improvements. The report to be discussed by Cabinet outlines the level of investment needed to successfully deliver the projects.

Cabinet will be asked to agree to the proposed investment and recommend to council that £52m is allocated into the Council’s Capital programme to allow for work required to unlock the potential of the land.

This would be funded by borrowing and by future house builders, for infrastructure necessary for development schemes within the garden communities.

The investment would also support elements of the A641 improvement scheme, being funded through the West Yorkshire Combined Authority’s West Yorkshire-plus Transport Fund.

This looks to improve the infrastructure and connectivity on this key route through Brighouse, linking Huddersfield and Bradford and ensuring communities in south east Calderdale have access to sustainable transport options.

It also complements wider investment in Brighouse through the Government’s Town Deal, with over £19m supporting projects which aim to transform Brighouse by encouraging more people to shop, spend time and spend money in the town.

Calderdale Council’s cabinet member for climate action, active travel and housing, Councillor Scott Patient, said: “Supporting this major investment in south east Calderdale would help us to deliver on our growth ambitions and allow for much needed new, high-quality homes, employment sites and critical transport infrastructure in this strategically significant part of the borough.

“The developments, as part of the Local Plan, will build a better Calderdale for everyone, opening up opportunities for new investment, helping to create new jobs and supporting thriving towns and places.

“This would be an investment to unlock the potential of the area and ensure we deliver against the Local Plan objectives and that the schemes are sustainable.”