Former water treatment site sold off as developers look to create 800 jobs at Interchange 26

Ryan Unsworth of developer Opus North and Peter Garrett of Keyland Developments

Opus North will start on site at Chain Bar near Cleckheaton in the first quarter of 2020 developing the first unit of circa 370,000 sq ft of a new industrial scheme.

Keyland Developments, the property trading arm of Kelda Group and sister company to Yorkshire Water, secured planning consent last year from Kirklees Council to regenerate the extensive site, which has been redundant for almost 20 years, into a major commercial development of circa 400,000 sq ft of industrial and employment space which could deliver some 800 new jobs.

The site is located at the intersection of the M62 Transpennine motorway and M606 Bradford link and was launched to market at the end of last year by Dove Haigh Phillips.

The purchase by Opus North reflects the Yorkshire-based developer’s focus on the industrial and logistics sector following the delivery of several major retail schemes across the North of England and will add to its current £150m development programme.

Peter Garrett, managing director of Keyland Developments, said; “The sale of the North Bierley site will make significant headway in providing new industrial accommodation and employment opportunities in a region that is currently experiencing severe shortages.

“The delivery of a major employment scheme, as facilitated by the planning consent, will also help to support businesses in the local area and bring about new jobs.”

Ilkley-based Opus North has been focussing on the industrial and logistics sector following the delivery of several major retail schemes across the North of England.

The purchase of this latest site adds to its current £150m development programme.

Andrew Duncan, managing director of Opus North, said: “The acquisition of this key site forms part of our wider aspirations within the logistics sector where we see strong opportunities to deliver schemes of excellence to address the chronic shortages of high quality industrial and logistics space.”

The new scheme will be branded as Interchange 26.