Locals concerned as Huddersfield care home could become student accommodation

A Huddersfield care home could soon be transformed into student accommodation as plans have been submitted to Kirklees Council.

Sitting at Tunnacliffe Road, Newsome Care Home has been vacant for the past couple of years. Developer, HD Assets, wants to bring new accommodation to the former 46-bedroom care home to cater for the town’s students.

The applicant says the building would undergo some “internal modifications” to enhance the space and create 48 rooms. The property would also feature 16 parking spaces and have gardens maintained by the landlord.

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However, some residents have expressed concern about the plans. One said: “The application states that there will be 48 bedrooms. There are only 16 parking spaces for staff and residents. Parking is an issue in surrounding streets with no spaces for potential overspill of parking from development.

“There are housing developments currently at Hart Street and Plane Street nearby. This development Would cause additional strain on local services Schools and doctors dentists etc.”

Kirklees Council Highways has also raised concern over a lack of detail on matters including the number of trips the development would generate and cycle storage. The authority says it is unable to support the application without this detail.

They continued: “The main highways concern is that the 16 parking spaces would be insufficient for 46 dwelling rooms, the current guidance requests that one space per dwelling room should be provided with one visitor space per four dwellings, a combined total requirement of 58 parking spaces.

“This is a great shortfall and could have the propensity to overwhelm the existing on-street parking within the area.”

West Yorkshire Police has requested that a security measure be added to the application. This would see the addition of things like an alarm system, well-illuminated public spaces and lockable gates for parking areas.

The Planning Statement on behalf of the applicant concludes: “The proposed development sees the efficient use of a site that is in a sustainable location.”

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