The next steps for the proposed Clifton Business Park and Enterprise Zone, which could create around 1,300 jobs, will be discussed by Calderdale Council’s Cabinet on Monday 16 March 2020.
The Council is working with the West Yorkshire Combined Authority and Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership (LEP) to transform a large site at Clifton near Brighouse into a regionally significant business park and Enterprise Zone.
Development of the Clifton Business Park and Enterprise Zone would create new jobs and safeguard existing positions; housing Calderdale’s growing firms and attracting new businesses from outside the region.
In addition to the high quality employment space, proposals for the site also include new walking and cycling routes and the developed areas would be balanced with landscaping, trees and plants.
Further development of plans and deployment of the associated significant levels of funding are dependent on the successful acquisition of the required land.
The Council has been negotiating for some time with the current landowners, to purchase the land required for the development. Members of Cabinet are now being asked to approve the use of a Compulsory Purchase Order to ensure the plans for the site and associated benefits can go ahead.
Compulsory purchase powers would only be used as a last resort, as efforts will continue to negotiate land purchase settlements.
Calderdale Council’s Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Resources, Cllr Jane Scullion, said:
“There’s a real demand for high quality employment space in Calderdale and the strategic location of the Clifton Business Park and Enterprise Zone would provide inward investment opportunities and support expansion of our existing businesses.
“Work is taking place to agree the purchase of the land required for the scheme, but should negotiations continue to prove unsuccessful then we will promote a Compulsory Purchase Order to ensure the development of the site.”
The proposed Clifton Business Park would be one of the Leeds City Region Enterprise Zones, supported by Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership (LEP), West Yorkshire Combined Authority, Calderdale Council, and the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.
The item will be discussed at the meeting of Calderdale Council’s Cabinet on Monday 16 March at Halifax Town Hall from 6pm.
For more information on this and other economic regeneration and growth projects in Calderdale, head to www.calderdalenextchapter.co.uk(external link) or follow #CdaleNextChapter on social media.