Huddersfield listed landmark to be disposed of as housing plans crumble

Kirklees Council hopes to transfer a Grade-II* Listed Huddersfield landmark to a housing developer, as the original approach for revamping the site hasn’t gone to plan. Located near to the

George Hotel and Huddersfield Railway Station, the Estate Buildings had been earmarked by the council for ‘high-quality’ housing. This is in-line with its wider blueprint vision to boost

town centre living and the target to bring 1,730 homes to Kirklees each year. Around £1.25m of government funding was secured for enabling works to get the historic building ready to be

turned into homes. The council acknowledged that it would be “very challenging” and expensive for a developer to convert the building but hoped to reduce costs and make it a “more

attractive” opportunity through the cash boost. The local authority had already entered into an 18-month exclusivity agreement with the Thirteen Group which was set to deliver social housing

at the site, as well as developing the Somerset Buildings at Byram Street. At the end of the agreement the group could purchase the buildings at market value. However, the housing provider

has since withdrawn from the scheme due to risk within the sector, leaving the council looking for alternatives, a report to next week’s Cabinet meeting explains. Focus is being placed on

the Estate Buildings, with fewer units and more issues found at the Somerset Buildings. The council now wants to appoint a development partner, allowing it to retain a level of control over

the pace and quality of the development while benefitting from the resources and funding from a private sector developer. The preferred partner would enter into a building lease with the

local authority and take on the freehold for the building once construction is completed. The move would generate additional Council Tax of up to £95,000 per year and some savings by

reducing the costs associated with holding the building. In 2023/24, the council spent £29,000 on gas, electric, intruder and fire alarms, rodent control, among other things at the Estate

Buildings. However, the council expects to dispose of the site at ‘less than best consideration’ due to the external funding that will be required to meet a “significant viability gap” - the

extent of which is not yet known. A decision on whether to proceed with this new delivery approach will be made by Cabinet on Tuesday (June 10). If the council is not in a contract to

deliver homes by March 31, 2028, some or all of the £1.25m government grant would have to be repaid. Councillor Graham Turner, Cabinet Member for Finance and Regeneration, said: “I’m excited

to see works starting on the Estate Buildings to prepare the building for the future development of high-quality housing within the town centre. “Having support from a development partner

is crucial for the project and will make sure we can carry out further restoration works to this important and beautiful building. “Bringing this heritage building back to life for people to

live in is a vital part of our blueprint vision within Huddersfield to create a vibrant place to live, work and play, and future-proofing the town for many generations to come. I hope this

is the first of many projects that will see more people living in the town centre.” The Estate Buildings date back to the late 1800s and was designed by renowned Huddersfield architect, W.H

Crossland. The entrance hall, staircase and first-floor waiting rooms once wowed visitors with its use of wall panelling, decorative stained glass and intricately carved fireplaces. The

council says that many of these features will be retained to showcase the history of the building as it is redeveloped. _GET ALL THE LATEST AND BREAKING HUDDERSFIELD NEWS STRAIGHT TO YOUR

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