Kirklees Council’s Cabinet have approved work on another prominent building in Daisy Hill, in Dewsbury.
Daisy Hill is one of the key areas the council are developing as part of the ambitious Dewsbury Blueprint. The council are creating a new neighbourhood in this area made up of homes which are both “excellent quality” and affordable to rent or buy.
Once the new neighbourhood is finished, it’ll feature both brand new buildings and older converted structures – like this one.
Cabinet have approved work on the building at 6-10 Westgate. The four storey site is made up of two commercial units on the ground floor with lots of space to create new homes above.
Above the commercial spaces, the council will be creating three new one-bed homes and one two-bed. Two new traditional shopfronts will also be installed and some of the building’s original stone features will be brought back to life.
This work will follow the development of Fieldhouse, soon to be Station Apartments, the flagship of the new Daisy Hill neighbourhood. Plans for Fieldhouse’s development were approved by Cabinet last year, and work is due to start within the next few months.
The council will be working with Saleem Holdings on the development of 6-10 Westgate, who have already been closely involved in putting together the Cabinet proposal, and are contributing £240k funding to the project.
As well as the investment by developer, Saleem Holdings, this work is also funded by both £671k from the Dewsbury Revival Grant Scheme – part of the government’s Towns Fund – and a £280k grant from Historic England’s Heritage Action Zones (HAZ).
Daisy Hill was awarded HAZ status in 2017, which means that Historic England considered the area to be ‘at risk’ and in need of urgent action to protect its history. It’s also part of the Dewsbury Town Centre Conservation Area.
Councillor Eric Firth, Cabinet Member for Transport and Dewsbury Ward Councillor, says: “This project fits perfectly within our aspirations for the Dewsbury Blueprint. The Blueprint is about creating a better, more vibrant and varied town centre for both residents and businesses, and breathing new life into areas that have seen better days.
“We’re very excited to work with Saleem Holdings on this development, as I know they’re as invested in the project – and in Dewsbury’s future – as we are.
“With work on Fieldhouse, the flagship of this new neighbourhood, due to start within months, we’ll be starting to see Daisy Hill in a new light very soon.”
