The council will begin preparations to demolish the Huddersfield Market multi-storey car park and then create a temporary surface car park as part of the Huddersfield blueprint project on Friday 23 October.

One lane of the ring road carriageway will be closed for one day to test the impact on traffic, before finalising traffic management plans for the demolition works.

The lane closure will take place from 9am – 4pm on Friday 23 October, and will affect the carriageway from Alfred Street/ Queensgate Junction to the bus stop at Queensgate Market.

This will allow the development of a plan that safely allows the provision of a haul road from the ring road into the site, that will allow debris to be removed a part of the demolition works.

Cllr Graham Turner, Cabinet member for Corporate said: “The new market hall car park will be an important asset to our town, and essential to the Huddersfield Blueprint. However we know that the demolition works will impact on the operation of the ring road, and the footpath off Alfred Street.

The thoroughfare between Alfred Street and Queensgate will also need to be closed for the duration of the works.  It is important therefore that we carry out this temporary closure so that the team are in the best position to plan how to mitigate the disruption. This is a very constrained site and the demolition will be very difficult and challenging but it is essential that we keep traffic flowing safely whilst works take place.  We have also made the decision not to start work on the demolition until  the new year in order to avoid the busy Christmas shopping period.”

Following the demolition, a new surface car park will be constructed to make use of the existing ground and lower ground floor levels and provide approximately 115 much needed parking spaces in the centre of town.  Six spaces will be allocated to blue badge holders and all access will be via the subway from the ring road. The 115 spaces being proposed would help support the adjacent Queensgate Market and the wider town.

Cllr Peter McBride, Cabinet Member for Regeneration said: “We remain committed to supporting the economic recovery of the town, and delivering on our blueprint ambitions. It is unfortunate that there has to be this temporary disruption, however I am confident that it will result in a better outcome for town centre users in the long term.  Car parking is one of many factors that impact on a town’s footfall, as such it is right that, following the demolition, we put in place a temporary car park until we are ready to progress with the new multi-story.  This along with the commuter car park at Old Leeds Road will provide 345 car parking spaces for people visiting Huddersfield in the near future.  I am sure that any measures to minimise disruption during the build will be welcomed by local businesses and visitors.”