Plans for 30 homes at Birkenshaw fire headquarters

If West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue get permission for their application funds from the land sale would mean new stations could be created at other locations. Existing buildings at the Bradford Road site would be demolished to make way for the homes.

These include 13 old houses used as administration offices from the 1980s until last year, and a communications centre to be left redundant after a new hub opened in Leeds this April.

Deputy Chief fire officer Steve Beckley said: “West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Authority is in the process of redeveloping its estate as part of a major modernisation programme.

“A number of functions at the Birkenshaw Headquarters are being relocated on the same site and elsewhere.

“Meanwhile, our Emergency Control Centre is also anticipated to move off-site to its new location in Leeds this autumn.

“This will leave a large plot of land surplus to requirements which will be sold off to generate capital to fund other investment, such as new fire stations.

“A successful application for outline planning consent will increase the value of the land for prospective buyers, thereby ensuring more money is available for the Fire and Rescue Authority to reinvest.”

Mr Beckley added that the application is subject to the usual consultation process through Kirklees Council’s planning department.

“Despite this application, the Fire Authority is not imposing any restrictions on future use of the land and will consider all approaches from potential buyers,” he said.

Public consultation on the plans ends on November 11. A decision regarding the brownfield site is likely to be made by mid-January, after which the land would go up for sale.