Impact report finds Piece Hall bringing millions into Calderdale

clearly demonstrates how the right vision, leadership and investment can deliver strong economic and cultural growth that benefits businesses and communities,” said Mr Marsh.

It would cost as much money to keep it, as a listed building, “mothballed”, says the report – as a Grade I listed site it would cost ratepayers between £500,000 and £800,000 a year to do this without any of the economic benefits, the report says.

Piece Hall Chief Executive Nicky Chance-Thompson said the Piece Hall is on course to cover 80 per cent of its costs itself with the remaining 20 per cent needing to come from some sort of public funding – that was a situation not unusual in this sector and was in line with the five-year plan for the Piece Hall, she said.

No other heritage building on its scale in the region, ranging from York Minster to the Hepworth Gallery – operated without charging and The Piece Hall is free for all to enter. “It’s about a balance of keeping an important heritage and tourism asset as a local asset and not drawing too heavily on the public purse,” she said. Ms Chance-Thompson said the £5.30 for each £1 invested was an “extraordinary” figure in business terms with a £2 return for £1 investment usually considered a good return.

Mr Marsh and Ms ChanceThompson say the report shows the Piece Hall is worth much more to the Calderdale economy than it costs and the effects will be lasting.

The same can be said in aesthetic terms, with 90 per cent of Yorkshire residents, according to figures specially commissioned by leading polling company Survation as part of the report using a sample of 1,010 people, thinking the Piece Hall is important for Halifax’s economy and reputation.

The trust has had to work with a building provided for it and has been on a learning curve from a standing start.

The Piece Hall is rapidly becoming the place to play for leading musicians, with a string of sold-out concerts this year, and the likes of Kaiser Chiefs and ska legends The Specials due to play next year, an area of growth being explored further, they said.

So far, says Mc ChanceThompson, musicians have loved the setting and want to come to Halifax as a result.

Amid difficult times for high streets nationally, the report also indicates the economic benefits could be influential on leading businesses with the report citing data from Savills, who manage the Woolshops, leading to the compilers’ observation that “Marks & Spencer chose to keep its store open in Halifax while closing its Huddersfield store.”

It has also being praised by Historic England which considers the Piece Hall to be “the most successful renewal project of its time” with an exemplar business model.

The report reveals that we are achieving and exceeding the council’s expectations for this important asset - Roger Marsh