Kirklees Councillors back plans for Huddersfield’s former Co-op building

A project to convert the long-disused Co-op building in Huddersfield into student accommodation has received the thumbs up from Kirklees Council’s Strategic Planning Committee.

Members of the committee voted to support developer SKA Developments’ plans to transform the property into a scheme comprising 135 student bedrooms across 75 apartments.

Final approval now rests with the authority’s head of strategic investment.

The units would include a mix of one- and two bedroom studios with communal kitchen and lounge areas, along with self-contained one-bed apartments.

Zeb Pervaiz, director at Huddersfield-based SKA Developments, said: “I’m absolutely delighted that Kirklees Council’s Strategic Planning Committee have given their approval for plans for the former Co-op building in Huddersfield.

“For too long this key site in Huddersfield Town Centre has stood vacant, so it gives me real pride that today we have taken a major step towards bringing the building back into beneficial use.”

Zeb continued: “Over the previous months we’ve worked very closely with Kirklees Council to develop a viable but eye catching scheme, and I’m thrilled that our approach of working closely with the Council has led to today’s decision.

“We now look forward to continuing to work closely with the council to finalise the details of these plans, and we are targeting a start-on-site for Renaissance Works in the coming months, which will kick off with a strip out of the existing building.”