Keyland secures planning permission to transform former water treatment works into industrial space 

Keyland Developments Ltd, the property trading arm of Kelda Group and sister company to Yorkshire Water, has secured planning permission from Kirklees Council for a circa 130,000 sq ft industrial development at its North Bierley Water Treatment works site in West Yorkshire.

This second phase of work will see the southern end of former Water Treatment Works site transformed into a new commercial development. When combined with the Phase One development, which secured permission in 2016, the site will deliver just over 500,000 sq ft of new industrial and employment space. The scheme has the potential to deliver some 700 new jobs for the region, helping to address job shortages across West Yorkshire.

After securing planning consent for Phase One, Keyland’s regeneration ambitions for the site resulted in a successful land sale to Opus North, who are currently on site delivering the “Interchange 26”.

Located in a strategic position at the Chain Bar junction of the M62 and M606, the site is a significant element of the Kirklees economic strategy. This latest permission continues to reflect Keyland’s commitment to the regeneration of brownfield land.

Matthew Turnbull, Planning & Development Manager at Keyland Developments Ltd, said; “Securing planning permission for phase two at the North Bierley site is a major achievement. This site will make a significant contribution to addressing the major shortfall in employment land across West Yorkshire, which is particularly acute in the western districts where a lack of land allocations and challenging levels make it harder for local businesses to find the space we need. We are committed to making best use of the region’s brownfield resource to address local needs and this development will bring a number of economic advantages to the North Kirklees and South Bradford area.”

Keyland Developments Ltd has been operating across Yorkshire for over 20 years, regenerating Yorkshire Water’s redundant sites. In addition to its work transforming former Yorkshire Water land, the team also works alongside independent landowners, corporates or regulated bodies to overcome obstacles to development on strategic sites in order to facilitate regeneration by securing planning consent for future use.