A PROPOSED £60m development in Hipperholme could help Calderdale’s local labour market recover from Covid-19, according to an economic report into the scheme.
By Jo Winrow
The independent report carried out carried out on behalf of developer Crosslee Properties, which looked into the jobs that would be created at the proposed scheme.
A decision is expected later this year on the plans for a mixed-used development on the former Crosslee factory site, including 106 homes, a care home and retirement village, employment and commercial space and a supermarket.
The report, by economic development consultancy, Hatch Regeneris, found that, like many other areas, Calderdale’s labour market has been badly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and the number of working age residents out of work increased from 4,600 in December 2019 to nearly 9,000 in December 2020.
Just under 7 per cent of the working population is now claiming benefits compared to the 6.6 per cent in the Leeds City Region and 6.3 per cent in Great Britain.
The rate of increase in claimants was highest for young people aged 16 to 24, which increased 120 per cent.
The report estimates 208 full time equivalent jobs would be created at the development, which will be called Crosslee Park.
These jobs will comprise 100 within ten proposed industrial units which will range from 2,500 sq ft to 20,000 sq ft; 30 jobs created by a food store; 60 jobs in a care home; and 18 in a McCarthy & Stone retirement village, which includes 24 bungalows.
In addition, it is expected that over the course of the anticipated four-year build programme around 140 full time equivalent construction roles will be created.
Crosslee Properties director, David Ross, said: “We have the objective of transforming our brownfield site into a thriving community and part of this includes creating opportunities for the local area.
“To generate both temporary and permanent employment opportunities is a positive as we continue to tackle the effects of the pandemic and we hope that local people can benefit from the new mixed-use development for years to come.”
The report has also estimated that the project would bring an additional £10.7m of economic value for the local area every year.
Outline plans for the scheme on the site of the former Crosslee tumble dryer factory on Brighouse Road in Hipperholme were submitted to Calderdale Council in May.
So far there have been 31 public comments regarding the plans, with 24 objecting and 5 in support.
Objections include current congestion levels being exacerbated and that the scale of the development is inappropriate for the area.
The Hipperholme and Lightcliffe ward planning action group wrote to object to the development “on the grounds of the likely severe traffic impacts and potentially significant air quality impacts”.
