Regeneration works begin to turn disused buildings into community hub

The planned transformation of a heritage building into a community hub in Sowerby Bridge town centre has taken a leap forward.

Building work has begun on the former fire station, swimming pool and council offices in Hollins Mill Lane to give them a new lease of life and create facilities for local people.

Calderdale Council and the Sowerby Bridge Fire & Water community group are working together to develop the hub.

A share of Calderdale’s £2m grant from the Government’s High Streets Heritage Action Zone (HSHAZ) programme, delivered by Historic England, is going towards funding the work.

Construction work for the Fire & Water building includes bringing the three main blocks along Hollins Mill Lane up to a standard where they can be used for as many activities as possible.

Windows and floors will be replaced, repairs made, disabled toilets added, a new fire escape created, underfloor heating installed and many other alterations completed.

Councillor Jane Scullion, Calderdale Council’s Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Strategy, said: “We know how much Sowerby Bridge’s heritage features mean to local people, visitors, our economy and Calderdale’s distinctive story.

“We want to make the best use of these historic features, along with a range of other improvements, to boost what is already a vibrant high street.

“The High Streets Heritage Action Zone programme will help achieve this, and we’re delighted to reach a major milestone in this work as construction gets underway on the exciting Fire & Water community hub.”

Phil Hawdon, chair of Sowerby Bridge Fire & Water, said: “Fire & Water has a very big dream, and whilst our DIY volunteers have successfully carried out lots of work, and continue to do so, this is the first big phase and it’s great to see it progressing daily.

“So, after over 11 years of commitment to Fire & Water and the Sowerby Bridge community, with hundreds of small scale and a number of large scale events under our belts, we are rapidly moving toward the time when we can widen our outreach and offer so much more to the town and its residents and groups.”

Craig Broadwith, from Historic England, added: “It’s wonderful news that work is now underway on Fire & Water Community Hub.

“This is an important initial step towards reinvigorating the area and unlocking its full potential, helping to create an attractive and thriving town centre.”