Improvements to the Dewsbury Riverside area are set to begin in April 2022. This marks the first phase of development for a substantial new housing allocation.
The site was marked for development as part of the Kirklees Local Plan in 2019. It will deliver up to 4,000 new homes over the next decade. As the aim is to create not just new homes but new communities. The project will also deliver infrastructure including schools, open spaces, and local facilities.
The Dewsbury Riverside site is currently home to 25 allotments which are in use by the public. This first stage of work will focus on replacing these plots and adding more, resulting in a total of 43 plots in a new location. This part of the project received planning permission in June 2021. Kirklees Council have contracted local construction firm Casey Ltd. to complete the bulk of work during this stage.
There will be a new vehicle entrance created on Ravensthorpe Road, along with a new car park and drainage improvements. Perimeter fencing, gates, kerbs and edging will also be installed. A site-wide water supply will also be installed – this will service the newly placed allotments. The council will also be helping existing allotment holders move to the new site.
Throughout this work, there will be management of dirt and dust around the site and adjacent roads, to minimise any negative impact on local communities.
Once started, these initial works should take around 20 weeks to complete. The full Dewsbury Riverside project will take shape alongside the Dewsbury Blueprint over the next ten years.
David Shepherd, Strategic Director for Growth and Regeneration at Kirklees Council, said: “This work marks the start of yet another great project set to regenerate Dewsbury and its surrounding areas. Ambitious schemes like this are all about realising Dewsbury’s potential and are part of our commitment to making the area a great place to live, work and visit.
“Once completed, this project will have delivered thousands of new homes in an area with great transport links, at the heart of our North Kirklees Growth Zone – a long-term regeneration programme that will build on these links and develop Dewsbury as a strategic employment location within the Leeds City Region.
“Not only will this development help meet the growing need for housing – an issue faced not just in Kirklees but nationwide – it will also introduce a wealth of new green space to the area and give local residents an environment they can really enjoy.”
