Kirklees Council announces plans to build 10,000 new homes

Kirklees is set for some major residential developments, as they announce their ambitions to build 10,000 new homes in the next five years. The plans, revealed at MIPIM this week by Kirklees Council’s Deputy Leader Shabir Pandor, will see the Council build 1,000 new homes themselves and look to secure the support of developers the fulfil the 10,000 home promise.

The news is another huge boost for the regions housing numbers, and another positive in the economic story in the region – which is set to be the talking point at the West Yorkshire Economic Growth Conference later this year, where topics such as housing, skills, infrastructure, and industrial strategy will be discussed.

Kirklees Council were exhibiting at the conference as they look to engage with developers to make the ambitions a success – with the West Yorkshire Combined Authority also in attendance alongside leaders of Bradford, Leeds and Wakefield councils.

Councillor Pandor used the event to announce the council’s Big Build – a programme set to accelerate the construction of homes across the borough. The proposed plans to build 10,000 homes will be on council-owned sites, and it’ll create a new housing development company itself to build 1,000 homes, whilst searching for developers to build the additional 9,000.

Speaking at the conference he said: ”The Big Build is a major opportunity for us to accelerate the rate of housing delivery across Kirklees. This not only provides the homes our residents need but, looking outwardly, helps us as a region to attract and retain the talent which businesses across the Leeds City Region need to fuel growth and underpin our regional economy as a whole. We know that we have a great deal to offer people in terms of lifestyle here in Kirklees. Our great strength is our location at the centre of the Northern Powerhouse – on the major North/South and East/West M1/M62 corridors of the M1 and M62. Around 70% of our district is rural, yet neighbouring cities are commutable within 40 minutes. We have England’s top performing sixth form – Greenhead College – and a University voted number one in the world for teaching excellence.”

Further details of the Big Build are set to be revealed over the coming weeks.

Make sure you’re part of the regional discussion around housing and more at the West Yorkshire Economic Growth Conference later this year.