Brighouse Business Park plans move a step closer

Calderdale Council has teamed up with the West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA) and Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership to transform the empty site into a business park to house Calderdale’s growing firms.

Initial designs for the layout of the park are due to take shape this year following investigation work to explore the underlying ground conditions left by shallow coal mining activity which took place on the site.

Underlying works are being held at the 23-hectare site this month to identify where difficult ground exists, so that the master plan for the site can address these conditions.

The master planning exercise has been commissioned by the WYCA and Calderdale Council with the approval of the landowner, Wharfedale Finance.

Councillor Barry Collins, Calderdale Council’s cabinet member for regeneration and economic development, said: “The Clifton site presents real opportunities to boost local business and create skilled jobs, and I’m pleased that work is progressing to move it forward for development.

“Clifton is just one example of where we are working with property owners to make empty or unused land viable for business and employment purposes.

“It’s a large site, it has access to a skilled workforce, it’s close to the motorway and has good transport links, so what a perfect business park it will be.”

The Council’s work at Clifton is part of its site unlocking activity, which aims to bring vacant floor space back into high-quality employment use.

The local authority works with landowners and private developers to identify obstacles stopping sites progressing for business development.

Following an application by the Council and the WYCA, the employment site at Clifton has been granted Enterprise Zone status by the Department for Communities and Local Government as part of a multi-site Leeds City Region Enterprise Zones development which covers locations along or near to the M62.

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