Huddersfield Cultural Heart major update as issues arise, work starts and future outlined
Kirklees Council has “high ambitions” for a “new era” of Huddersfield, as the major Our Cultural Heart scheme gathers pace.
This week marks the start of the main construction work on the first phase of the scheme which will see some sections of the former Queensgate Market building demolished, as its transformation into a vibrant new food hall and modern library ramps up.
The library will be situated in the east wing of the same building and both assets will feed out onto a new public square. The core Listed sections of the building will be fully refurbished, to enhance the end result and celebrate the venue’s unique heritage and character.
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Significant pre-construction site preparation has already been carried out by BAM Construction - the principal contractor for this phase of work. This has included the ‘soft stripping’ of all non-structural and internal fixtures and fittings, as well as the removal of the former market stalls and asbestos.
To mark this week’s significant project milestone, senior figures from Kirklees Council – including the Leader of the Council, Councillor Carole Pattison – joined project colleagues from Turner & Townsend and BAM.
However, it hasn’t all been plain sailing, today’s (September 23) meeting of the council’s Growth and Regeneration Scrutiny Panel meeting heard. An update on the project’s progress and some of the setbacks encountered along the way, was given by Service Director for Skills and Regeneration, Edward Highfield.
Regarding the work being done on the current phase of the scheme, Mr Highfield explained that “significant failure” had been found in the concrete slabs which essentially form the ceiling of the basement or floor of the food hall, with the situation “far worse than anybody had expected”.
While work to remedy this has been built into the contract with BAM, Chair of the meeting, Cllr Zarina Amin (Labour, Ashbrow), wanted to know if it had resulted in extra costs for the council. Mr Highfield said that there had been an additional cost but this was put into the council’s overarching Capital Plan due to its larger significance.
He explained: “That isn’t a singular Cultural Heart project. If members decided not to proceed with the Cultural Heart, we would still have had to incur that cost because it’s a council asset and it was a health and safety matter.
“One way or another, we had to act quickly and deal with those concrete slabs, regardless of the end use, regardless of the Cultural Heart project.”
Another question was raised around the future use of the Queen Street plot. The council was previously in talks with Greenhead College about using the site for a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) block, but funding could not be secured, with the college subsequently withdrawing its interest.
Now, the local authority is exploring other options for the plot, with a hotel, residential or offices, among the options being considered.
The phased approach, brought in due to the council’s financial pressures to enable the scheme to be delivered bit by bit, was said to be advantageous in the case of Queen Street and other elements of the project, allowing the council to be “opportunistic” and “more responsive to changes in the market.
Cabinet Member for Finance and Regeneration, Councillor Graham Turner, said: “Because we’re phasing it, we don’t have to rush into anything. In three or four years time, or two years time, who knows what the economic situation may be. We may find that somebody else comes forward…”
The council’s phased approach could see changes made to the order the phases are delivered in, with it possible for Phase 3 - the Queen Street plot - to be brought forward, should an interested party come forward in the near future. However, Mr Highfield said the council intends to progress through the stages as they are currently set out.
This will see Phase 1 - the library, food hall and public square - up and running by Summer 2026, and Phase 2 - the museum and gallery and public realm - open to the public at the start of 2029. Plans have recently been submitted for the new museum and gallery in the former library building at Princess Alexandra Walk, with a decision expected by November.
Next comes Phase 3 which covers the Queen Street Plot and Phase 4 will see the construction of a new park. The final phase, Phase 5, features a new venue and multi-storey car park. The construction of these three phases is currently set to take place between 2026 and 2031.
Speaking of the overall aims of the scheme, Mr Highfield, said: “The intention of all of this is to give a better quality and a new offer for people to come into the town centre, to spend more time in the town centre and hopefully do lots of other things while they’re in the town centre.”
Outside of the meeting, Councillor Carole Pattison, Leader of Kirklees Council, said: “It’s a proud moment to see the main construction work on Our Cultural Heart get going and comes after extensive planning and consultation efforts over the last few years.
“We have high ambitions for this new era of our town centre. Developments like Our Cultural Heart will bring more visitors to the town and help to drive growth and investment in Huddersfield and the wider Kirklees borough.
“Now that the internal strip out is completed and the real work is underway, the transformation of the site will quickly become visible to all in our town and a source of pride and excitement for what’s to come.”
Paul Cleminson, Pre-Construction Director at BAM, said: “This is an exciting scheme for Huddersfield and we’re delighted to be starting work on site.
“An important driver for BAM is ensuring our projects positively impact the local community and we want to make sure that this project also leaves a lasting legacy for the people and businesses of Kirklees.
“We’re driving investment into the local economy by employing Kirklees-based subcontractors, procuring materials locally, and creating employment and apprenticeship opportunities on the project.
“We’ll also be reaching out to local schools and colleges, to provide learning opportunities on the project.”
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