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New Huddersfield housing development officially named best of its kind in West Yorkshire

A new housing development based in Slaithwaite, Huddersfield has clinched an industry award for being the ‘Best’ in West Yorkshire.

The site, named ‘Empire Works’, was officially titled West Yorkshire’s ‘Best New Development’, by LABC (Local Authority Building Control) – the body which upholds quality standards in the building sector – on Friday 7 June at Leeds’ Cedar Court Hotel.

Situated next to the Huddersfield Narrow Canal in Slaithwaite, the award-winning site is home to almost 60 families/residents and has been developed by experienced local house builders, SB Homes.

As the most renowned and largest accolades in the building control sector, the LABC awards recognise companies and projects for high levels of regulation compliance, craftmanship, innovation, sustainability and quality.


A former mill site, SB Homes’ aim for Empire Works was to redevelop the disused brownfield land, whilst respecting the environment and bringing it back to life in a manner that complemented its surroundings. The company therefore worked with Kirklees Planning Authority, building control, structural engineers and Historic England to create sustainable designs and architectural innovations which would suit the setting.

The development is said to have won the prestigious award, because of this approach, as well as the high-quality finish and the consideration of local demand.

Talking of the award win, Stephen Byram, founder and managing director of SB Homes, said: “Empire Works is the most quality and renowned development in West Yorkshire, and we are incredibly proud of that. From speaking with customers and locals about the impact it has had on their lives and the village, we already knew it was a special development, but it is fantastic for it to be ‘official’.

“Slaithwaite is set in a steep valley, so many of our clients are homeowners who have lived in the village for all their lives, but formerly felt trapped in a situation where they could either leave the area or stick where they were — in homes that no longer suited their accessibility requirements. The apartments, which have lift access, are therefore the perfect solution for local demand.”

The properties at Empire Works are crafted in natural, dyed stone which reflects the local vernacular. Some properties are also clad in cedar timber, whereas the apartments are fitted with anthracite grey steel.

SB Homes consulted engineers Haigh Huddleston on the project, for its ground surveying, building regulation, remediation, flood risk assessment and structural inspection requirements.

Martin Huddleston, partner at the firm, said: “The result of Empire Works really is stunning, and we are proud to have supported SB Homes with their needs. It was a complicated development but together, we formed solutions which work to its advantage.”

Empire Works will now be entered into LABC’s national awards, taking place in November.