A BUILDING dogged by controversy for years could have a bright future.
Talks are well under way to get new tenants back into Pioneer House, a landmark building in the centre of Dewsbury.
And Kirklees Council officials are working with the Prince’s Trust to revamp the building and bring it back into full use.
Following years of neglect at the hands of its former owner, Pioneer House is set to get its first new tenant according to an announcement made by the council.
Pioneer House has dominated Dewsbury’s skyline since 1878, when it was built for Dewsbury Pioneers’ Industrial Society, from which to sell its produce and wares.
Over the years the building became home to a wide variety of tenants, recently including a theatre, cinema, library, French polishers, butchers, cobblers, and a restaurant.
Stayton Developments became the owner of Pioneer House in 2005 and announced plans that the building was to be the centrepiece of a flagship regeneration scheme the company was preparing for the town.
However, the repairs and redevelopment of Pioneer and the wider town-centre scheme were not progressed, and the building deteriorated rapidly.
Kirklees Council began legal proceedings in 2009 to compulsorily purchase the building in order to protect it from further decay, resulting in a high-profile public inquiry in November 2010.
The Secretary of State ruled in the council’s favour in March 2010 and ownership of the building was conferred on Kirklees Council last month.
Clr Mehboob Khan, leader of Kirklees Council, revealed that discussions with Pioneer’s first tenant were progressing well, less than two weeks after the council took formal ownership of the building in order to protect it from further decay.
He said: “It goes without saying that we are absolutely delighted to be able to reveal that our negotiations have reached a stage that both parties are happy to announce our involvement publicly.
“As our discussions are not formally concluded, I am not in a position to confirm the identity of that tenant just yet, but we hope to be able to make a further announcement on that issue very shortly.
“This first development deal will bring around a third of the building, over all three floors back into use, and is a significant expression of commercial confidence not only in Pioneer House, but also in the wider town.”
The announcement comes in the same week senior officials from The Prince’s Regeneration Trust visit Dewsbury to get their first look inside the building they have been advising the council on.
Ros Kerslake, chief executive of The Prince’s Regeneration Trust, said: “That we’ve been able to help Kirklees Council protect the future of this historically-important building and bring it back into safe public hands is fantastic news”.
