A MAJOR development could begin near Huddersfield town centre next week.

Kirklees councillors have approved a plan for a hotel, shops, offices and restaurants on the former Robinson’s dyeworks on Leeds Road.

A spokesman for developer GMI Property told the council’s Huddersfield Planning Sub-committee that bulldozers could be on the site as early as Monday, with building work beginning in the New Year.

The Leeds-based company wants to demolish the industrial buildings on the nearly five-and-a-quarter acre site, which straddles both sides of the junction between Leeds Road and Hillhouse Lane.

But the Grade B listed St Andrew’s Church would be preserved and turned into a restaurant. A second two-storey restaurant is also proposed at the site.

The developers plan to build an eight-storey hotel with 104 rooms facing the Huddersfield Broad Canal. It would have a total floor space of 2,718square metres.

GMI Property also want to build three shops on a small triangle of land south of Hillhouse Lane opposite the main site. And the company has pledged £274,000 towards the redevelopment of Cooper Bridge as part of the proposal.

Sub-committee member Clr Mohan Sokhal supported the plan. The Greenhead ward Labour councillor said: “I welcome this because that site on the Leeds Road is an eyesore.

“I want something to happen there.”

Speaking after the meeting Clr Royston Rogers said GMI would discuss using excess energy generated from the neighbouring SITA incinerator and recycling site.

The Holme Valley North Conservative said: “They have said they’re prepared to talk about it, which is a big plus. There is 40 megawatts of power which we could give them at a very good rate. It would help keep the carbon footprint down.”

Robinson’s moved to new premises on the Syngenta site in Deighton in April. The chemical company had been based at Hillhouse Lane since 1840.

The firm, which also has sites in Germany and India, produces dyes for glasses, toys and hair products.