Each year, the council is aiming to deliver 1,873 homes
An aerial view in Kirklees(Image: Kirklees Council)
The development of Kirklees’ new Local Plan has taken the next steps and more houses are needed.
The Local Plan is a document which sets out how much land can be developed and where this will take place, to meet the needs of local people and businesses. It also covers planning policies and details of land that will be protected or safeguarded.
Kirklees Council’s current plan came into force in 2019 and is currently undergoing a full review after being found unfit for purpose. A number of issues were highlighted, including the absence of a five-year land supply, the council’s failure to meet its housing targets and difficulties in achieving sufficient jobs.
Under the 2019 plan, the local authority aimed to build 1,730 homes in Kirklees each year but now, this figure has been upped to 1,873. The number will be reviewed annually and equates to around 35,000 homes by 2043 – the period the plan is expected to be in place.
A draft version of the new Local Plan will be ready for public consultation by December. A further period of consultation will then take place on the final proposals between October and November 2027 before the plan is sent to the Secretary of State in January 2028.
Back in November, the Minister of State for Housing and Planning announced an update on the implementation of reforms to the plan-making system. This includes proposals for Local Plans to be prepared within 30 months, measures to ensure Local Plans are more consistent, and making plans fully digital in a bid to boost accessibility.
With these national changes in mind, the council says its priorities are to ensure the new plan is: positively prepared – based on a clear strategy aligning with growth ambitions while meeting local needs; justified and effective – supported by robust evidence and tailored to Kirklees; and achievable – development is supported by infrastructure and viable.
Looking ahead, the council says it will gather evidence and engage early to shape a draft spatial strategy – which sets out where development will take place across the region – and alternatives, showing how the plan meets its objectives. The local authority will also continue site assessments to support the strategy and review national policy changes.
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