Grand plan needed to revive Huddersfield town centre

Aug 25 2009 By Dave Himelfield

OUR town needs a stronger sense of identity and a masterplan to revitalise it.

That’s one of the findings of a study conducted by Huddersfield Civic Society (HCS) on attitudes towards the town centre.

Of the 106 people surveyed, many felt the town lacked an identity and an all-round plan to breath new life into Huddersfield.

While people also wanted the town centre cleaned, unoccupied shops used and a heritage walk.

Subjects of the study, led by HCS vice-chairman John Lockwood, felt the town was failing to live up to its potential and development was being impeded by piecemeal planning and destructive party politics.

Those interviewed felt they were being ignored by a council which made its decisions before consulting the public.

Based on studies of other towns and cities, HCS believes a unified regeneration strategy is necessary to successfully revitalise Huddersfield town centre.

HCS says a central attraction, such as an art gallery or concert hall, will spearhead development in the town centre.

And the 44-year-old society hope they can encourage the town’s heritage organisations to rally together.

The study was carried out during Civic Society Week at the former Neaverson shop on Byram Street.

The society’s chairman Prof Cedric Cullingford said: “While they appreciated what Huddersfield had – the Victorian buildings and the feel of a small town – they expressed a lot of disappointment. They felt more could be done.

“If you have a properly planned civic building people will come and spend money.