MIPIM Latest: Retail and leisure plans to spearhead development of key towns
TWO Yorkshire towns have unveiled major plans to attract investment into key retail and leisure projects.
Huddersfield and Halifax have underlined their ambitions to boost their retail offer by showcasing investment opportunities to delegates at the MIPIM international property conference.
Calderdale and Kirklees council’s are part of the Leeds City Region delegation at the event in Cannes and Calderdale revealed full details of its ambitious Masterplan for Halifax town centre while Kirklees showcased the HD One plans for the 54-acre site surrounding the Galpharm Stadium.
The Masterplan which is being developed for Halifax includes a bid for Heritage Lottery funding to develop the historic grade 1-listed Piece Hall as well as the Broad Street development as well as projects focused on Hopwood Lane and The Shay sports stadium.
Under the banner, ‘Place to make it’, Greg Jennings, assistant director of regeneration at Kirklees Council, told delegates how nationally renowned companies such as fleet management leaders FMG, Britannia Rescue, and global nursery brand Mamas and Papas are based in Huddersfield which offers a unique environment in which businesses flourish and expand, set in an unrivalled rural landscape and with excellent links to the wider Leeds City Region, and markets further afield.
Mr Jennings was joined by Ralph Rimmer, managing director of Kirklees Stadium Developments, who is spearheading spectacular plans for an impressive mixed-use leisure and entertainment extension to existing operations at the town’s extremely successful Galpharm Stadium.
Mr Rimmer said: “We’re confident The HD One will be another innovative and award-winning scheme like the stadium itself. Our recent planning permission is a clear statement backed by an ambitious town, and our scheme is now forging ahead as an integral part of Huddersfield’s aspirations for the future.”
Mr Jennings added: “With a diverse economy which has proven itself to be more resilient to the effects of the recession than most, we’ve been delighted to see that investors and developers have been able to maintain momentum in schemes in the town over the last 18 months.
“Quality office developments such as Folly Hall Mills were fully let on completion in summer 2009, and show a healthy percentage of pre-lets for Phase 2 which is already underway. Work also begins in April on the town’s Waterfront Quarter – a £150m mixed-use development alongside the river and canal, and which is set to transform the town’s waterfront, and provide a brand new home to Kirklees College.”
