The Huddersfield home will make way for a 49-bed student complex under ambitious plans

A Huddersfield building could soon be demolished and student accommodation built in its place.

The property – a former shop on the ground floor and flats above – earmarked for demolition is opposite Wickes on Manchester Road and has been described as being in a “poor state of repair”. It has an empty commercial unit on the ground floor and accommodation on the first floor.

The applicant, Manchester Road Projects Ltd, wants to demolish the building and build a student flat complex on the site, with a gym, community hall, community garden and bike storage. The accommodation would have 49 beds and be a mix of self-contained studios and shared clustered apartments and would be accessible from Manchester Road.

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The area’s listed buildings are highlighted in the application supporting documents, including three fronting Manchester Road and a large detached Grade II listed property, Spring Lodge, located to the rear of the site. The applicant says the proposal will make a “much more positive” contribution to the existing street scene and will be “respectful” of nearby heritage assets.

To date (June 10), no objections have been submitted to Kirklees Council in response to the application. However, West Yorkshire Police asked that a planning condition for security measures be added to the application.

Suggestions put forward by the police include well-lit public spaces, locked gates to parking/garage areas and a 24-hour monitored helper alarm system. A target date for a decision on the plans has been set for August 16, 2024.

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