It is too early to say what will become of the disused land that was to be a new Tesco store for Huddersfield.
But buildings on the site are likely to be razed to the ground.
Kirklees Council now owns the land off Huddersfield’s ring road that Tesco had pledged to build on – and it’s likely the buildings on the site will be demolished.
It comes after Kirklees agreed a “mutually satisfactory” deal with the retailer, which back-tracked out of building a new store in the town after the chain hit financial troubles.
They had been acquiring land between Southgate and Old Leeds Road, including the Huddersfield Sports Centre and two tower blocks of flats, as well as a former council office building and a number of industrial units.
The deal, which neither Kirklees nor Tesco is willing to reveal figures for, sees Tesco give the council a lump sum and the land back. It includes land that did not belong to Kirklees, as well as council land including the flats and old sports centre.
Examiner readers have put forward a series of uses for the site, from an ice-rink to homeless shelter and affordable housing, but Kirklees says it’s to early to comment on its future use.
See what you thought could possibly replace the old Sports Centre below.
The clear favouite among the 650 people who have expressed an opinion n the website is for a concert venue.
Clr David Sheard, council leader, had said the authority would look to remove “redundant buildings and work up potential redevelopment options” - with all of the site now derelict.
A council spokesperson said: “The council’s main focus to date has been securing the future of the site in the light of Tesco’s announcement that they would not be proceeding with the development of a new store.
“This is a significant site in terms of its area and proximity to the town centre and work will now begin on a strategy for site clearance and assessing options for a comprehensive re-development.
“No decisions on either of these issues have been made as yet.”
