Work has begun to convert the former Dewsbury County Court into apartments.

The Grade 2 listed building overlooking the Victorian railway station and the town centre is to be transformed into 12 contemporary and stylish apartments to rent.

The historic building at Eightlands Road has been empty since March 2012 and was sold on the open market for £278,000.

The project is being carried out with assistance from Kirklees Council’s Empty Clusters Project.

The development will not alter the external appearance significantly, other than opening up original windows which have been boarded over in the past.

The former Dewsbury County Court building off Eightlands Road, Dewsbury
The former Dewsbury County Court building off Eightlands Road, Dewsbury

The owners of the building are John and Sheelagh Robinson and they appointed Adamco Construction Ltd as principal contractor to bring back into use this landmark building to provide much-needed residential accommodation for Dewsbury.

Kirklees Clr Cathy Scott, Joint Cabinet member for Place, said: “The County Court is a key building in the Dewsbury

 town centre streetscape and I am glad that the council can help preserve it through our Empty Clusters Project.

Clr Peter McBride, said: This conversion of the courthouse building to residential use will mean that the future care and maintenance of the building is ensured whilst making minimal impact to its appearance.”

Funding of £2.8 million was secured by Kirklees Council in June 2012 as part of a scheme to revitalise Huddersfield and Dewsbury town centres and meet wider economic needs in the district.

Dewsbury was one of the first towns to have a county court when the modern civil justice system was established in 1846 and remained int the same building until it closed two years ago.

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