Delivery of regeneration plans set to ramp up with £100m investment

Kirklees Council’s Cabinet is to be presented with an update on the Blueprint regeneration plans for both Huddersfield and Dewsbury town centres, with £100m of investment to be voted on.

In June 2019 the council launched its Huddersfield Blueprint plan and followed this up in February 2020 with the unveiling of its Dewsbury Blueprint.

The council has been working to bring both visions to life and an update on progress and an overview of the next steps will be presented to Cabinet on 22 September.

Cabinet Members will vote on funding plans for both town centres.

For Huddersfield, up to £75m is proposed to be invested to deliver a number of key projects.

If approved, this will be allocated towards a new Sound Space music venue, improvement works to the public realm, a new multi-storey car park at Market Hall, repair works to the George Hotel which will become a National Rugby League Museum, refurbishment of shopfronts and more.

Projects in Dewsbury will have £26m allocated if Cabinet approves the report.

This will help to deliver the refurbishment of Dewsbury Arcade which the council has now purchased, public realm and shopfront improvements, public art projects, help to refurbish the library building, new street lighting and more.

Cabinet approval will allow the council to continue developing and delivering these projects and work will also continue to plan other significant regeneration plans for both towns.

In addition to this £100m investment, Kirklees Council is looking to secure a further £18m in match funding to help deliver both Blueprint plans, with bids also submitted for additional grants.

Councillor Peter McBride, cabinet member for regeneration, said: “When we launched our plans for Huddersfield and Dewsbury town centres, our intention was to get to work and bring them to life and this level of investment shows that we mean business.

“Our Blueprint visions are long-term and on a large-scale. This investment is just the start of an incredibly exciting regeneration journey for our town centres with further plans being worked on.

“If Cabinet backs the investment we’re proposing for these key projects, we can begin to develop and deliver them and start to create the thriving town centres local people and businesses deserve.

“I would like to thank all the thousands of residents who took the time to view our plans for Huddersfield and Dewsbury and shared their thoughts with us as part of the consultation period.

“Something that remains important to us moving forward is working with local people to make sure we get this right for them.”