Kirklees Council is getting ready to offload more assets as it continues to address financial difficulties.
When major pressures first took hold, the local authority announced it would be getting rid of 50 assets, from landmarks to farms, to bring in some much needed cash. At the time, the council was working to address a £47m black hole in its budget, hoping to make a minimum of £4m within the previous financial year from sales.
Now, the council is moving closer to offloading some more of these properties and plots of land, with eight already going under the hammer in recent months. Among them was the historic former Red House Museum at Gomersal, Fartown Village Hall and the former Paddock Youth Centre.
Other sites are being disposed of through Community Asset Transfers – where a site is handed over to be owned and managed by the community. The council is gearing up to dispose of the following, as listed on its website or that of Pugh Auctions. The method of disposal has only been confirmed for some of the properties so far.
Honley Village Hall
In October, Cabinet agreed the village hall could be transferred to the local community.
Federation House, Huddersfield
The former offices at St John’s Avenue are being sold via Pugh Auctions on January 29 with a guide price of £150,000 plus.
Former Dewsbury Arena
The land which was once home to Dewsbury Arena off Boothroyd Lane is another lot set to be sold at auction this month. It has a guide price of £250,000 plus.
Former Gomersal First School
According to the council’s website, a report will be going to Cabinet on January 21 which will determine whether to proceed with the intended disposal of the First School site.
Grasscroft, Almondbury
A plot of land that the council is looking to dispose of.
Partridge Crescent, Thornhill
Another plot of land the local authority is planning to get rid of which adjoins 145 Partridge Crescent.
Riverbank Court
This three-storey detached office block and separate stores off Wakefield Road at Aspley is being marketed by Eddisons with a price on application. The plot features a large car park to both the front of the office block and a separate car park accessed via St Andrew’s Road.
Westtown Centre, Dewsbury
The former Westtown Family Centre at Boothroyd Green is another site the council is looking to offload.
