Affordable homes plan given the go-ahead

Its Cabinet has agreed to sell the site to Pennine Housing 2000 for the development of affordable housing, which could see around 23 affordable new homes in an area of high demand.

The Council’s Cabinet Member for Economy and Environment, Coun Barry Collins, said he was delighted that the council was working with Pennine Housing 2000.

He said: “The site has failed to sell at auction, so we are now working with Pennine Housing 2000 to find a solution which will see affordable housing for people in an area where demand is particularly high.”

He said there were currently some 8,500 people registered with Keychoice, Calderdale’s Choice-based lettings register.

Of those, 1,174 had said that they would like a property in Luddendenfoot. Coun Collins added: “So this proposal represents a rare opportunity to provide much-needed affordable housing for families in the area.”

Kershaw Grange was a council-run home for older people, which closed in 2009. Following its demolition, the council has tried to sell the site of just under 1.5acres.

Under Calderdale’s affordable housing programme, more than £30m worth of building is underway which will provide around 300 new affordable homes and securing work in the construction industry.

Calderdale has worked with partners to help make a number of schemes happen, including:

Thirteen properties in Rochdale Road, Todmorden, developed by the Jephson Housing Association and Places for People

Twelve houses in Rastrick, developed by St Vincent’s Housing Association,

A mixed tenure scheme developed by Pennine Housing 2000 at Brig Royd, Ripponden.