The second phase of public consultation has begun on plans for a £210 million redevelopment of Huddersfield town centre.
The Kirklees Cultural Heart development is part of the Huddersfield Blueprint, Kirklees council’s 10-year masterplan to modernise the West Yorkshire town's centre.
The proposals are for the area between Queensgate, King Street and Victoria Lane, currently known as the Piazza, which has seen decreasing footfall in recent years.
The plan involves refurbishing the Queensgate Market and Huddersfield Library buildings to house a food hall and a dedicated museum space respectively. A community-focused library will be developed in a modern extension to the market building, while a new art gallery will be built on Queen Street.
Elsewhere, a multi-purpose entertainment venue, which will have a capacity of up to 2,200 people, is being designed to host concerts, live shows, business conferences and trade shows. Below the venue will be a multi-storey car park with around 350 spaces.
There will be public spaces, including a square that can host community and cultural events, and an urban park.
Phase one of the Cultural Heart consultation took place in May and June earlier. This first phase saw over 3,750 people engage online and over 200 people attend the exhibition space.
The council said 63% of respondents said they were supportive of the proposals.
Councilor Shabir Pandor, leader of Kirklees council, said: “Our town centre, like many across the UK, needs to adapt to changing shopping habits and challenging market conditions. Retail still has a key role to play in our future, but making our town centres more vibrant and varied will help encourage more people to not just visit the town centre but stay there for longer, which in turn supports new and existing shops, bars and restaurants.
“An investment like the Cultural Heart is an investment for all of Kirklees and we are excited to deliver an amazing new landmark that our people can be proud of.”
George Wilson, partner at Feilden Clegg Bradley Studiosm the scheme’s lead architect, added: “Our vision for Kirklees Cultural Heart is deeply rooted in Huddersfield and the wider borough. The design celebrates the architectural character of Kirklees and the site’s surrounding civic buildings, whilst also introducing some complementary modern materials to create an exciting and contemporary destination for all.”
The plans can be viewed here: http://www.kirkleesculturalheart.co.uk