Plans to rejuvenate a section of New Street and the length of Cloth Hall Street in Huddersfield Town Centre have been unveiled by Kirklees Council.
Public feedback gathered on the Huddersfield Blueprint in early 2019 influenced the final design which supports the council’s ambitious 10 year vision to create a thriving, modern-day town centre.
The design will transform New Street, between Ramsden Street and the junction with Market Place, into a ‘garden street’ with social green areas and planted areas, complete with integrated seating and artwork. This attractive, green space at the heart of the town’s shopping area will encourage a café-street culture, offering more options for people to eat and socialise outdoors.
Posts and bollards will be reduced on both streets to create wider footways and more open spaces that allow pedestrians to move more easily across the town. The larger, flexible spaces this creates on New Street could also be used for future pop-up markets and other outdoor events.
To compliment the design, all road and pavement surfaces will be replaced with new quality materials to improve the curb appeal for existing businesses and encourage new businesses to the area.
Additional green spaces in the town centre are a positive step in support of the council’s declared Climate Emergency and, once works are completed, the improvements are expected to boost economic recovery following the pandemic by encouraging people into the town.
Cllr Peter McBride, Deputy Leader of the Council said: “This investment in New Street and Cloth Hall Street, at the heart of Huddersfield Town Centre, demonstrates our desire to revitalise the area for shoppers, visitors and businesses alike.
Shopping habits and social attitudes have changed, even before the recent pandemic restrictions were introduced. So, simply continuing as we were is not an option. Instead, we’re reimagining the town centre to become a place where people can come safely together in a cleaner, greener, family-friendly environment. One that we can all take pride in.
The introduction of an outdoor café-culture, pop-up markets and space for events will bring an energy to the town centre with vibrant colour and aromatic smells to entice people to shop, stop, stay and play. This increased footfall will boost both the daytime and evening economies on offer and will, in turn, generate local business growth and investment in the town.”
Councillor Naheed Mather, Cabinet Member for Environment commented: “These plans support our wider ambition to tackle climate change, with incorporated planting and green spaces, and is just one part of the Huddersfield Blueprint; our 10 year vision to create a thriving modern-day town centre.”
Cabinet members approved the £5.25m investment to improve New Street and Cloth Hall Street in October 2019.
Experts behind the plan have organised online events to give members of the public and local business an opportunity to learn more and ask questions.
Two public online events will take place on 16 December at 12 noon and 17 December at 5.30pm with a third specifically targeted for local businesses on 14 December at 5.30pm.
The plans and details of how to join the online events can be found online at www.kirklees.gov.uk/newstreet