THE future of a £200m plan to transform part of Huddersfield town centre is in the balance because of the recession.

Kirklees Council’s leader revealed yesterday that the Queensgate Revival development is “on ice” because of a shortage of business investment.

The council wants to transform the site, which takes in the market hall, the multi-storey car park, the former Co-operative store and buildings on New Street.

Kirklees needs £50m of private investment to help finance the plan, which includes a new library, art gallery and information centre, a three-storey department store, 100-bed hotel, 100 homes, a new market hall, bars, restaurants and up to 900 parking spaces.

But the plan has been put on hold because of the recession.

Council leader Clr Mehboob Khan said: “The Queensgate scheme is on ice because it requires £50m of private investment and that type of money isn’t available.”

But he added that the plan may go ahead at a later date. Clr Khan said: “When the private sector investment becomes available again, we will move forward with the plan if we think it’s in the best interests of the town.”

Last March Kirklees refused permission for an extension to the nearby Kingsgate Shopping Centre. Councillors feared Marks and Spencer would move in to Kingsgate rather than become the anchor retailer for Queensgate Revival. However the £50m Kingsgate 2 plan was given the go-ahead on appeal in December.

Kingsgate owner WD Huddersfield Ltd said yesterday there was no firm start date for the 120,000sq ft extension, which includes a department store, four shops, a restaurant and a cafe.

And Clr Khan revealed yesterday that other town centre plans were in doubt.

These include Tesco’s plan to move from Viaduct Street to Southgate. Clr Khan said: “The Cabinet is reviewing the Tesco scheme because of concerns expressed by residents. We’re going to look at all the details of the plan and we won’t be rushing into a decision.”

Kirklees is also trying to secure funding from the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) to help Kirklees College move from New North Road to new premises off Manchester Road.

Clr Khan said: “We’re all working together to keep that scheme going but it’s dependent on many factors. One of the main factors is the release of capital from the LSC to help the college relocate.”

The council leader added that Kirklees could step in to help developer HD1 turn the vacant St George’s Warehouse next to Huddersfield Train Station into offices.

Clr Khan said: “We’re looking at ways that the public sector could support that scheme.”

And he added there were many other ways the council was helping people through the economic crisis.

He said: “We’re looking to get up to £8m from the Government for a scheme to use thousands of tonnes of steam generated at the Vine Street waste plant to provide low-cost energy.

“We’re also pushing ahead with the £20m Warmzone scheme which gives free insulation to homes across Kirklees and creates hundreds of jobs.”

KIRKLEES Council has several major developments in the pipeline for Huddersfield town centre.

Queensgate Revival: On ice

The £200m plan takes in the Market Hall, its multi-storey car park, the former Co-operative store and buildings on New Street.

The proposal includes a new library, a three-storey department store, 100-bed hotel, 100 homes, a new market hall, bars, restaurants and up to 900 parking spaces.

New Tesco: Under review

The retail giant wants to build a new supermarket on Southgate. The plan involves demolishing Huddersfield Sports Centre and the Ibbotson and Lonsbrough flats.

Tesco would knock down its Viaduct Street store and put up housing, offices, shops and a hotel. The plans would also see a new sports centre on the site of the Springwood Car Park.

Waterfront Quarter: Funding talks ongoing

Kirklees College wants to move from New North Road to a £70m new campus on a triangle of land between Manchester Road, Chapel Hill and the River Colne.

The Waterfront Quarter plan, which also includes three blocks of flats and four offices buildings, would create 2,000 jobs.

St George’s Warehouse: Funding talks ongoing

Developers HD1 want to turn the vacant warehouse next to Huddersfield Train Station into 160,000 sq ft of office space.

The £20m plan for the Grade II listed building would create 1,600 jobs and is scheduled to be completed by December.