Depots and agriculture land could be sold off by Kirklees Council.
The council’s asset disposal strategy has already reduced council offices from 20 sites to seven hubs.
Disposal of assets so far has produced £7.4m for the council in sales and savings.
Now attention is turning to the council’s depots, grazing land and agricultural holdings and the council warns its “provision of accommodation will be continually reviewed with the likely reduction from the current seven hub sites”.
Depot sites are used by Streetscene services including building services, highways, transport, waste and parks.
Kirklees says of the depots: “The review has identified that many of our current depots are unsuitable and beyond reasonable repair and that there is significant duplication in plant and material storage and welfare and office accommodation across the portfolio.
“This review is likely to result in the closure of a large number of smaller depot sites and the development/creation of a small number of joint “super” depots in North and South Kirklees.”
Unsuitable sites will be sold, with the depot review likely to take two years.
Kirklees also owns 160 hectares of agricultural land - divided into around 100 tenanted lots which gives Kirklees an income of £38,000 a year.
They too could be sold and Kirklees predicts the sales could net more than £1m at the current market value.
The report says: “Officers are currently assessing these holdings as to whether opportunities for development exist.
“It is anticipated these will be minimal as most holdings sit within the Greenbelt.
“As these holdings and service do not provide essential services, and due to the minimal income annually generated, it is intended to evaluate the disposal of these.”
Talks with health and emergency services are taking place to share buildings and the Examiner has already revealed the potential for some Princess Royal Health Centre services moving into Civic Centre space.
A number of sites identified for housing in the council’s Unitary Development Policy (planning policy and land allocation) remain and Kirklees admits they “offer the potential for significant capital receipts”.
And a further 25 smaller sites suitable for 120 housing units could be sold potentially netting Kirklees a further £1m in capital receipts.
Empty school sites could be sold, but recent government legislation means such sites have to be made available for Trust or Free School development eight years after closure.
It could mean some remain empty unless Kirklees can find a new use, which is being explored.
Oakmead and Briarcourt in Lindley, Westfields in Mirfield and Deighton sites are the last to close later this spring.
Briarcourt is among those which could potentially raise more than £1m but is yet to be sold, with several asset transfer bids having been made.
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