The Sowerby Bridge Copley Valley development has taken another significant step forward having been granted detailed planning permission for approximately 80,000 sq ft (7,432 sq m) of new business units. The four new industrial units of 31,500 sq ft (2,878 sq m), 22,000 sq ft (2,044 sq m), 16,250 sq ft (1,510 sq m) and 9,000 sq ft (836 sq m), will provide much needed high quality new business space.
Calderdale Council is working with its partner, Genr8 Developments, to deliver the Sowerby Bridge Copley Valley regeneration scheme. Genr8 has appointed Elland-based Commercial Development Projects Limited to deliver the employment space element of the mixed use project.
Following a marketing campaign, demand for the proposed new units has been high and Commercial Development Projects and sole letting agents Walker Singleton report that negotiations are at an advanced stage for the sale of the two largest industrial units to substantial local companies with healthy interest in the remainder of the space. Construction of the new units is scheduled to start immediately after Easter 2016, and the first units will be completed and ready for occupation in late 2016.
2016 will also see the commencement of the residential element of the scheme with Genr8’s selected delivery partner Taylor Wimpey due to start building new homes from January 2016 with the first units scheduled to be completed in early summer.
The European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) for the Yorkshire and Humber region part-funded elements of the site’s new infrastructure including the recently completed new highway linking Hollas Lane with Holmes Road. To acknowledge this support a special plaque was unveiled on site.
Calderdale Council’s Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Economic Development, Cllr Barry Collins, said:
“The industrial units in this scheme bring exciting new opportunities to house Calderdale’s growing firms and attract new businesses. This will help to boost our economy by creating jobs for local people and attracting inward investment.”
Genr8 partner Richard Ingham commented ”The granting of detailed planning permission for the employment space is another significant step in the delivery of this flagship scheme. Following this milestone and the completion of the extensive site infrastructure works in December, we are now looking forward to commencing the delivery of both the employment and residential phases of the development early in the new year.”