A major plan to redevelop two Huddersfield high rise flats blocks has started, with Kirklees Council helping to rehouse tenants.
Following a consultation with residents in 2021, council tenants at Berry Brow’s Bishops Court and Holme Park Court were asked to give their views over the future of the two high-rise blocks.
The tenants voted overwhelmingly in favour of the blocks being demolished and rebuilt as new housing. The £36.78 million project is expected to take around seven years and will be carried out in six stages: supporting tenants and leaseholders to move out; designing the new homes; public consultation; finalising designs, obtaining planning permission and Cabinet approval; demolishing existing buildings; building the new homes.
Housing officers are now starting phase one of the plan.
Councillor Cathy Scott, cabinet member for housing and democracy, said: “After listening to our tenants’ views on the future of the Berry Brow high rise flats, I am pleased we are now able to start the process of redeveloping the flats and start talking to our tenants to support them in finding alternative places they would like to live.
“We have a dedicated team in place to offer our tenants one-to-one support during this process and to also assist them with moving costs, as well as compensating them for the loss of their home.
“We appreciate this will be an unsettling time and will do everything we can to help to support our tenants through this process and ensure they are satisfied with their new homes.”
Work will begin on developing plans for new build social housing on the Berry Brow site. Draft designs are expected to be ready for public consultation by summer 2023.
