MORE of Huddersfield’s historic buildings could be given a new lease of life.
Councillors are considering a new strategy to encourage developers to look at using the town’s heritage for new projects.
The idea is one of several recommendations being made as part of a review of Kirklees Council’s planning services.
A scrutiny panel has recommended encouraging private sector investment in Kirklees listed buildings.
There are about 4,500 listed buildings in Kirklees – the third highest number of any town or city in the country.
Council officers are working with English Heritage to look at acceptable solutions to the development of some of the listed buildings.
Many of those are in Huddersfield town centre and include the former Huddersfield Corporation Waterworks offices in Water Street and the Highfields annexe for Kirklees College.
Officers working with the council’s conservation and design team are looking at ways of making listed buildings more accessible and appealing to would-be developers, with the emphasis on energy efficiency measures.
The Scrutiny report reviewing the Kirklees Planning Service will be presented to Cabinet tomorrow and includes recommendations to support the work of the service.
Members of the council’s Development and Environment Scrutiny Panel looked at several areas of the Planning Service’s work, including the effectiveness of efficiency measures that have been introduced, how the Planning Service intends to address the new planning reforms and the role of enforcement.
The report makes a number of recommendations:
Further enhancements to online planning information and functions
Greater focus on providing regular updates on planning applications
Investigating the introduction of an up-front fee, to be refunded once planning conditions have been met
Clr Nigel Patrick, who chairs the Scrutiny panel, said: “This review has clearly shown that the council is aware of the future demands and challenges facing the Planning Service in Kirklees.
“It is encouraging that developing an efficient customer-focused service remains a priority for the council.
“I am pleased that Cabinet supports the recommendations which should help to further improve the work of this service.”
Clr Peter McBride, Cabinet member for Place, said: “I would like to thank the Scrutiny Panel for their review of the Planning Service, and for their carefully considered recommendations.
“We welcome the suggestions which have been made and we are committed to driving further service developments forward in future.
“Ultimately, our priority remains ensuring that we adopt practices which are in the best interests of local residents and businesses.
“Put simply, this means delivering a Planning Service which addresses our residents’ needs for jobs and homes, and stimulates the investment prospects which will help our economy to thrive.
“I am confident that the activities suggested by the Scrutiny Panel will undoubtedly contribute to these aims.”
