Thursday, May 1, 2025

Kirklees pushes ahead with Dewsbury land sales to bolster budget

Kirklees Council is advancing its asset disposal programme with a new round of auctions that includes three sites in the Dewsbury area. The move is part of ongoing efforts to address financial pressures following a £47 million budget deficit in 2023.

The upcoming auctions feature land and buildings formerly used for community and commercial purposes in Ravensthorpe and Dewsbury town centre. These are among six properties across Kirklees set to go under the hammer in April and May. Guide prices suggest the council expects to raise at least £25,000 to £100,000 per site, depending on size and location.

This latest phase continues a wider sell-off that has already included more than 50 assets, ranging from museums and libraries to car parks and business centres. Sales so far have brought in substantial returns, with former council-owned sites such as the Red House Museum and Fartown Village Hall achieving six-figure sums.

All revenue from the sales is being reinvested into the council’s capital plan, which funds local infrastructure and economic development. The programme reflects a shift by local authorities toward asset realisation as a means of maintaining fiscal stability in the face of ongoing budget constraints.

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