Latest news with #ThirteenGroup
BBC News
14 hours ago
- Business
- BBC News
No asbestos in air around Cleckheaton building site
No asbestos has been found in the air around a building site in Cleckheaton, Kirklees Council said, after traces were found in dust samples from nearby homes earlier this taken from homes near the Westgate development in June and July were analysed by asbestos specialist Acorn, which found there was amosite (brown asbestos) present in two samples, and chrysotile (white asbestos) in Council has since carried out extra independent testing which found "no asbestos fibres were detected in the air around the site".Affordable housing provider Thirteen Group said work on the site, undertaken by Strata Homes, was being carried out in "full compliance" with regulations. The Local Democracy Reporting Service said that residents had repeatedly called on the council to step in and put a stop to the work was not stopped but the local authority commissioned further air quality testing which was carried out last council said that the independent tests carried out on the site's boundary detected no asbestos in the air, with monitoring to continue this has also advised the developer to take further steps to stop dust escaping from the site, including extra damping measures. 'Work not affecting air quality' A statement on Kirklees Council's website reads: "Residents raised concerns that dust from the site could contain asbestos."To provide reassurance, we commissioned independent testing in addition to the safety checks the developer is already required to carry out."No asbestos fibres were detected in the air around the site."This means that the works, based on the evidence so far, are not affecting air quality in a way that would harm nearby homes." Planning permission for the 180-home Westgate development was granted in October 2023 to market housing developer Strata the site was taken on by Thirteen Group, though the construction is still being carried out by Strata was known during the planning process that parts of the site were contaminated with asbestos, with a remediation strategy drawn up to address it later emerged that Strata Homes had not been aware that an asbestos factory had once been located on part of the site. This was confirmed through historical records and accounts of former workers.A spokesperson for Strata said that this detail had not been deliberately concealed, and despite this new information, it was "unlikely" that it would have changed the site investigations, testing or remediation approach being Group has maintained that work on the site is being carried out in a "phased and controlled" manner and in "full compliance" with national regulations. Earlier this month, chief executive Matt Forest said a number of site visits had been undertaken by Kirklees Council and the Health and Safety Executive with nothing of concern being found during "various assessments". Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North or tell us a story you think we should be covering here.
BBC News
15-06-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Work to get underway on 96 affordable homes in Sunderland
Work on a £23.6m housing development of 96 affordable homes is due to get under East-based not-for-profit housing association, Thirteen Group, is building the homes off Amberley Street and Harrogate Street in Hendon in homes, which will all be available for affordable rent, will consist of 75 two, three and four-bedroom houses and 21 two-bedroom East Mayor Kim McGuiness said too many families had been "locked out of affordable housing for too long". 'Empty too long' The scheme is being supported by Homes England, the North East Mayor, Kim McGuinness, Sunderland City Council and local charity, Back on the development is supported by a £1.9m contribution from the North East Combined Authority's Brownfield Housing said: "Too many families have been locked out of affordable housing for too long so I'm pleased we'll be delivering even more schemes like this with a further £17m to transform brownfield sites with great homes for our communities across the region."Everyone deserves a good home." The development is expected to be completed by 2028. Council leader Michael Mordey, who is also the Hendon ward councillor, said: "I'm delighted to see the start of work on these much-needed homes for social rent in the heart of Hendon."This site has stood empty for far too long, so it really is great to finally see the development start," he added.
Yahoo
07-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Development partner sought for listed building
A Grade II* listed building could be transferred to a housing developer after original plans to transform the site failed. Kirklees Council had earmarked Estate Buildings, near the George Hotel and railway station in Huddersfield, for housing. Government cash of £1.25m was secured for enabling works and the council had entered into an agreement with Thirteen Group to deliver social housing at the site. However, the housing provider has since withdrawn from the scheme due to risk within the sector, leaving the council looking for alternatives. The council has acknowledged that it would be "very challenging" and expensive for a developer to convert the building but hoped to reduce costs and make it a "more attractive" opportunity through government cash. Estate Buildings dates back to the late 1800s and was designed by Huddersfield architect W.H Crossland. The entrance hall, staircase and first-floor waiting rooms feature wall panelling, decorative stained glass and intricately carved fireplaces. The council said many of the features would be retained through any redevelopment. The agreement with the Thirteen Group would have also involved developing Somerset Buildings on Byram Street and, once completed, the group could have purchased the building at market value. The council now wants to appoint a development partner who would enter into a building lease with the council and take on the freehold for Estate Buildings once construction was complete. The move would generate additional council tax of up to £95,000 per year and some savings by reducing the costs associated with holding the building, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service. In 2023-24, the council spent £29,000 on gas, electric, intruder and fire alarms and rodent controls at Estate Buildings. A decision on whether to proceed with the new approach will be made by the council's cabinet on Tuesday. If the council is not in a contract to deliver homes by 31 March 2028, some or all of the £1.25m government grant would have to be repaid. Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North. Kirklees Council New homes plan approved for town centre building
BBC News
07-06-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Developer partner sought for listed building in Huddersfield
A Grade II* listed building could be transferred to a housing developer after original plans to transform the site Council had earmarked Estate Buildings, near the George Hotel and railway station in Huddersfield, for cash of £1.25m was secured for enabling works and the council had entered into an agreement with Thirteen Group to deliver social housing at the the housing provider has since withdrawn from the scheme due to risk within the sector, leaving the council looking for alternatives. The council has acknowledged that it would be "very challenging" and expensive for a developer to convert the building but hoped to reduce costs and make it a "more attractive" opportunity through government Buildings dates back to the late 1800s and was designed by Huddersfield architect W.H entrance hall, staircase and first-floor waiting rooms feature wall panelling, decorative stained glass and intricately carved fireplaces. The council said many of the features would be retained through any agreement with the Thirteen Group would have also involved developing Somerset Buildings on Byram Street and, once completed, the group could have purchased the building at market council now wants to appoint a development partner who would enter into a building lease with the council and take on the freehold for Estate Buildings once construction was complete. Grant repaid The move would generate additional council tax of up to £95,000 per year and some savings by reducing the costs associated with holding the building, according to the Local Democracy Reporting 2023-24, the council spent £29,000 on gas, electric, intruder and fire alarms and rodent controls at Estate Buildings.A decision on whether to proceed with the new approach will be made by the council's cabinet on the council is not in a contract to deliver homes by 31 March 2028, some or all of the £1.25m government grant would have to be repaid. Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
