Kingsgate 2 gets go-ahead: New M&S store planned?

Dec 3 2008 by Henryk Zientek, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

OWNERS of the Kingsgate Centre today won their battle to build a £50m extension to the Huddersfield town centre shopping complex.

A planning inspector has ruled against Kirklees Council – which had opposed the scheme partly on the grounds that it would undermine the council-backed Queensgate Revival project to revamp the Piazza area, New Street and the existing market hall.

The decision leaves the way clear for Kingsgate owner WD Huddersfield Ltd to press ahead with its extension, dubbed Kingsgate 2, as long as it meets a string of planning conditions.

In his 15-page ruling, inspector Trevor Cookson underlined how a battle to “sign up” major retailer Marks & Spencer lay at the heart of the planning row.

In the run up to the appeal hearing, WD Huddersfield revealed that it was in talks with the retailer to occupy the proposed department store for the Kingsgate 2 scheme.

Meanwhile, Kirklees envisaged M&S being anchor tenant for the Queensgate project.