Building restarts on brownfield site close to Huddersfield town centre
Construction has resumed on a scheme to deliver 30 affordable homes in Newsome, close to Huddersfield town centre, after delays linked to services agreements and adverse weather.
The development on Plane Street is a partnership between Unity Homes and Enterprise — a BME-led housing association — Kirklees Council, Homes England, and the West Yorkshire Combined Authority. Jack Lunn Construction Ltd has returned to site and is now making progress, with the programme targeting completion by spring 2027.
“The delays have been frustrating for everyone involved, particularly the adjoining residents who have had to put up with a road closure and significant disruption, but we are thrilled that this exciting development being built for local people is firmly back on track.”
The Plane Street plot was formerly occupied by Stile Common Infant and Nursery School, which was demolished in 2011, leaving the brownfield site unused for many years. The scheme will deliver a mix of two- and three-bedroom properties intended to increase the supply of affordable housing in the area.
- Number of homes: 30
- Size: two- and three-bedroom properties
- Expected completion: spring 2027
- Main contractor: Jack Lunn Construction Ltd
- Partners: Unity Homes and Enterprise, Kirklees Council, Homes England, West Yorkshire Combined Authority
Local impact and community disruption
Project directors acknowledge the scheme has caused inconvenience for nearby residents. Road closures and the prolonged inactivity of the site have been sources of frustration. In a statement, Unity’s regeneration director thanked the local community for patience and said the development will breathe new life into a previously derelict plot.
“The 30 new properties are of the highest quality and will provide a boost to a previously derelict site which had been out of use for a significant period of time,” the statement added.
Unity Homes and Enterprise also emphasised the social purpose behind the scheme. The organisation’s chief executive described the project as a way to increase access to high-quality housing for BME communities while expanding Unity’s presence in Kirklees.
“Building new homes and providing BME people with an opportunity to live in excellent quality housing is a key part of our social purpose,”
The partnership approach reflects wider regional funding and planning trends: Homes England and the West Yorkshire Combined Authority have both backed housing projects aimed at improving affordability and using previously developed land close to town centres.
What residents can expect next
With construction now under way, immediate priorities are completing the remaining physical works on site and managing the local disruption until handover. The developers have committed to continuing dialogue with neighbouring households about access, safety and traffic measures while works continue.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Site | Plane Street, Newsome (former Stile Common Infant & Nursery School site) |
| Homes | 30 affordable two- and three-bedroom properties |
| Contractor | Jack Lunn Construction Ltd |
| Partners | Unity Homes and Enterprise; Kirklees Council; Homes England; West Yorkshire Combined Authority |
| Completion | Expected by spring 2027 |
For Huddersfield residents, the scheme represents both a direct benefit in the form of new affordable homes and a test of how development on previously derelict sites can be managed with community interests in mind. Local councils and housing associations will be expected to ensure that the final delivery meets standards promised and that lessons from the delays are applied to future projects.
Decision-makers and residents will watch the next phases on Plane Street closely as the project moves from groundwork back into sustained construction.
