Blueprint for development ‘is a milestone for district’

THE ADOPTION of Kirklees’ Local Plan has been described as “a monumental milestone” by council leader Shabir Pandor.

Coun Pandor took to video to celebrate the final stage in the planning blueprint’s journey, and praised councillors and officers for achieving what no other authority in West Yorkshire has so far managed.

In a piece to camera filmed by the council’s public relations team he said: “What this plan means is that we can now start to invest in our infrastructure and start a period of renewal.”

His comments were echoed by Wakefield-based town planning consultant Adrian Spawforth, whose company has worked with the council and developer Miller Homes on the massive Dewsbury Riverside housing plan.

Around 4,000 homes are earmarked for the South Dewsbury site. On social media Mr Spawforth wrote: “Fantastic news!“We are delighted to see that the Kirklees Local Plan has been adopted with Dewsbury Riverside at South Dewsbury being a significant Green Belt release and one of the region’s largest housing allocations.”

An order from the government, the Local Plan includes 31,000 homes, many of which will have to be built within the Green Belt, as there is insufficient nonGreen Belt land in the borough. The Dewsbury Riverside site, between Mirfield and Ravensthorpe, will be created by housebuilder Miller Homes.