Kirklees Local Plan: residents have until 11 September

Kirklees residents have four weeks to influence how the district plans for homes, jobs, transport, community facilities and green spaces. The free Kirklees Local Plan Consultation opened on Thursday 13 August and closes on Friday 11 September 2026.

Participation is online through the Kirklees Council website. The consultation is open to residents, businesses, community groups, organisations and other stakeholders with an interest in Kirklees, West Yorkshire.

• Event: Kirklees Local Plan Consultation
• Dates: 13 August to 11 September 2026
• Venue: Online via the Kirklees Council website
• Cost: Free
• Organiser: Kirklees Council

Residents can influence the plan before sites are selected

This consultation is the first stage of the council’s new plan-making process. It focuses on the priorities the Local Plan should address and how the council should involve communities as the work progresses.

That distinction matters for anyone expecting to comment on individual development sites. Specific site allocations and detailed planning policies are not part of this initial consultation; the council says those proposals will be consulted on separately in June 2027.

Responses submitted during the current four-week window will be considered alongside updated evidence about the district’s future needs. Together, they will inform the next draft, including proposed policies and options for where future development could take place.

Homes, jobs and local services are within its scope

A Local Plan sets out how land across Kirklees will be used and where development should happen. It guides decisions affecting housing, employment, transport, community facilities and the management of both the built and natural environment.

The council adopted the current Kirklees Local Plan in 2019. It is now preparing an update following the introduction of the Government’s new plan-making system in March 2026.

Housing requirements form part of that changing context. The existing plan has a target of 1,730 new homes a year, while Kirklees is now required to provide 1,917 annually—an increase of 187 homes per year compared with the current target.

The consultation is not limited to housing. The plan must also consider the schools, healthcare, leisure and cultural facilities communities need, alongside green spaces and safe neighbourhoods. Sustainable travel—including walking, cycling and public transport—is also covered.

Kirklees Council says the updated plan is intended to support economic growth and new housing while protecting green spaces and promoting sustainable development. It will also contribute to the district’s ambition to become net zero and climate-ready by 2038.

Feedback will shape the next draft of the plan

Councillor John Hardie, Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Highways and Transport, said the plan will influence where homes, jobs, infrastructure and green spaces could be located over the coming years. He asked people who live, work or invest in Kirklees to identify the local issues and priorities the plan should address.

Responses can be submitted through the Local Plan page on the Kirklees Council website until Friday 11 September. The source does not specify a daily opening time, physical venue, transport arrangements or accessibility provisions; participation is described as online and free.

The next confirmed stage is the separate consultation planned for June 2027, when residents and stakeholders will be able to examine proposed site allocations and detailed policies.

Source: Kirklees Council