SIX weeks of ground investigation work begins near Brighouse from this week to move forward a development which is a key part of regional, and a council’s, economic strategy.

Outline plans and initial planning permissions for Clifton Business Park at Wakefield Road, Clifton, were approved at the end of 2019 and work is now taking place to develop more detailed technical designs for the project.

The work will help inform detailed designs for the scheme, which will transform the site into one which is regionally significant in West Yorkshire as one of the region’s Enterprise Zones, says the council, which is developing it with West Yorkshire Combined Authority and Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership (LEP).

Specialist ecological and geophysical works will need to take place involving extensive surveys and ground investigation work with a crew of up to 13 people.

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Construction equipment will be used on site, including excavators, and a number of trial holes will be dug out.

The samples extracted by this work will be analysed and the results will allow appropriate technical designs to be created, says the council, which expects the work to ake place over a six week period.

Work will be kept within the boundaries of the site Mondat to Saturday with a constant security presence, and every effort taken to minimise disruption to local residents, says the council.

Cabinet member for Regeneration and Resources, Coun Jane Scullion (Lab, Luddenden Foot) said the site of the proposed Clifton Business Park and Enterprise Zone is strategically located next to junction 25 of the M62 motorway.

“It’s situated in an excellent position to house Calderdale’s growing firms and attract new businesses to the area.

“In addition to the high quality employment space, proposals for the site also include new walking and cycling routes and the developed areas would be balanced with landscaping, trees and plants.

“Work will soon be visible on site, but this is just preliminary ground investigations.

“The project is still at the development stage and this work will be used to prepare technical designs,” she said.

Once the development of these plans is complete the Full Business Case will be submitted to the West Yorkshire Combined Authority for approval with a further reserved matters application also considered by the council.