Regeneration of the Beech Hill area of Halifax could soon move a step forward, as Calderdale Council’s Cabinet is set to discuss the first phase of works.
Calderdale Council and Together Housing are working on the transformation as part of the Calderdale Together Investment Partnership, which aims to deliver up to 650 affordable homes for rent and ownership over the next five years, including new homes at the Beech Hill site and across Calderdale.
The plan for phase one of the Beech Hill redevelopment is to build over 100 new homes, which would first involve demolishing the three empty tower blocks and the Council’s former derelict highways depot on the site.
The Council is aiming to secure a total of £2.197 million from the West Yorkshire Combined Authority to contribute to the phase one demolition and infrastructure works. £1.4 million has already been confirmed and the Council will seek approval from the Combined Authority for the remaining £797,000 later this year.
Cabinet will be asked to recommend to Full Council to allocate the £1.4 million from the West Yorkshire Combined Authority to Together Housing, which is responsible for delivering the works on site.
Cllr Daniel Sutherland, Calderdale Council’s Cabinet Member for Planning, Housing and Environment, said:
“Regenerating Beech Hill – a key area of Halifax – is part of our pledge to develop more good quality, affordable homes and give local families more choice and a better quality of life. It’s great to see work has started on taking the tower blocks down and this funding would help transform this area on the edge of town.”
Hilary Brady, Group Head of Development at Together Housing Group, added:
“We have kick-started the regeneration of Beech Hill with the onset of the demolition of the existing tower blocks on the estate. This funding would help us realise our vision of transforming a key area in Halifax.”
When the West Yorkshire Combined Authority’s Investment Committee backed £9 million of funding to develop local schemes, including the regeneration of Beech Hill, its chair Cllr Peter Box said:
“By backing investment to progress projects, West Yorkshire Combined Authority is demonstrating its commitment to improving the day-to-day lives of the three million people who call our City Region their home as well as growing the local economy.”
Providing high-quality, affordable homes helps the Council achieve its priorities of growing the economy, reducing inequalities and building a sustainable future. It aligns with the wider transformation of Calderdale and investment in transport, public spaces and businesses, and supports the Vision2024 to be a thriving borough where people want to live, work, visit and invest. Good housing helps to attract and retain a talented, enterprising and resilient workforce.
Proposals to build around 100 homes at Beech Hill received planning permission in June 2018, and subject to funding approval, the mixed-tenure homes would be due for completion by 2022. They would help to make the area more attractive – adding to Calderdale’s distinctiveness – whilst boosting the health and wellbeing of local people, providing better energy efficiency and reducing residents’ bills.
The Council and Together Housing continue to consult with Beech Hill residents and interested parties and involve them in the plans.
The overall Calderdale Together Investment Partnership programme will see £76 million of investment into Calderdale, plus new jobs, traineeships and apprenticeships. The Partnership was recently shortlisted in the Inside Housing Development Awards in the Best Partnership category.
The Cabinet meeting will be held from 6pm at Halifax Town Hall on Monday 3 September 2018.
The year 2024 marks Calderdale’s 50th birthday. Where do we want to be by 2024? What’s our ambition and what will be different? Get involved with the debate on Twitter with #VisionCdale2024 and find out more at www.calderdale.gov.uk/v2/council/vision-2024