Councillors agreed to sell off a former supermarket site.

But first Kirklees Council officers will explore using the former Safeway site off Bradford Road in Dewsbury as a care facility.

There is outside interest in the site, which was bought seven years ago for £3m but became surplus to requirements.

Kirklees Cabinet agreed to the sale of the site off Bradford Road in Dewsbury – but Clr Graham Turner, Cabinet member for resources, revealed that they would explore the site for the possibility of an extra care home, which would provide housing for older people with the ability to address their social needs on site.

He said: “In the first instance we are investigating the possibility of this being developed as an extra care home, officers are looking at this.

“Should it not be fit for an extra care home then we approve it for sale at the best price available.”

He added that they looked at all council-owned sites for the potential for providing much-needed care facilities, and that funding options for it would be explored in due course.

If it’s found not to be suitable, the authority can sell it to interested parties for retail, and believe the sale and redevelopment could result in around 40 new jobs being created.

Details of the offer and the council’s valuation were contained in a confidential report which was considered in private at the meeting.