An historic Dewsbury building has been brought back to life in the first phase of a major regeneration scheme.
Imsons on Northgate has seen the benefit of a £3.7m grant to revitalise that part of the town.
And Kirklees Council is celebrating completion of the opening shots in the far-reaching project.
The money has been allocated to boost the Northgate area in a Townscape Heritage Initiative. The Heritage Lottery Fund provided an initial £2m, with a further £1.7m coming from the council.
The scheme will last for five years and see improvements to buildings such as Pioneer House, the former Co-op funeral parlour, Northgate House (currently a families relief charity shop) and properties between Queensway Arcade, Northgate and Foundry Street.
The aim is to restore the buildings to their former glory. Work will include repairing defective guttering and fall pipes and improving external decoration. In the case of gift shop Imsons, modern fronts are replaced with those of a more traditional style.
Imsons has also seen the refurbishment of upper windows on Northgate and Foundry Street.
Work on the remaining buildings is now being planned, with a likely start being made in spring.
After viewing what has been achieved, Dewsbury East Labour Clr Cathy Scott said: “The Imsons building has been brought back to life and has, in turn, transformed Queensway Arcade.
“This grant is leading to real changes in Dewsbury and I hope the investment will encourage more businesses to move to the town.
“While there is much more to Dewsbury than its buildings, anything that raises the profile of the town can only be a good thing.
“I look forward to seeing the other buildings get the same high quality improvements.”
