Kirklees Council forced to respond to social media data centre speculation
The local authority has denied that a site in Kirkheaton is to become a data centre
The council has clarified that a development site in Kirkheaton will not become a “data centre”.
The former Grange Moor Coachworks site, off Barnsley Road, received approval from Kirklees Council for development in 2024.
The site sits on a 7.2-hectare plot of land located bout 100 meters south of the Grange Moor roundabout, where Wakefield Road (A642) meets Barnsley Road.
Yet, as the build progresses, the council has had to iterate that the site is “not a data centre” following social media posts.
Comments made on Facebook query about the site earlier this week (June 2) branded the building “ugly” while others said the development “ruined the landscape”.
One chain asked whether the site was actually a “data centre”, though the council has quashed that claim.
A spokesperson for Kirklees Council said: “The approved planning permission is for a purpose-built commercial building for a local business that is expanding within Kirklees. The granted planning permission is not for a data centre.
“The development will bring a disused site back into productive use, supporting local investment and jobs. As with all planning applications, the proposal was assessed through the planning process before permission was granted.”
The site is currently being transformed by developers Acumen Designers & Architects Ltd and will serve as the headquarters for a custom computer company.
Its primary use will be for storing components, assembling laptops and PCs, and handling both on-site sales and product distribution.