Piece Hall to be key driver of economic and social recovery
THE ICONIC Piece Hall is ready to play a part in helping Calderdale’s economy – and its people – recover along the road out of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Before the pandemic, the Grade I listed building in Halifax was fulfilling its role as a major driver of Calderdale’s economy while remaining much-loved among the borough’s people and The Piece Hall Trust believes it is ready to fulfil both roles in the weeks, months and years ahead.
The Trust has published its first Annual Review today, covering the year 2019-20, with analysis showing it is now bringing a return of £5.30 to Calderdale for each £1 invested in it.
The Trust’s Chief Executive, Nicky Chance-Thompson, said: “The vision behind The Piece Hall’s transformation was for it ’to become an internationally admired, widely visited and highly successful attraction in its own right – and be the key driver in the wider economic regeneration of Halifax and Calderdale‘.
“Our first Annual Review demonstrates that the Trust is living up to that promise, and that despite the challenges of Covid-19, and thanks to our funders, we now stand ready to play an important role in national recovery efforts.”
She said it was as important that it continues to be a place local people enjoy.
“It is woven into the very fabric of our town and is something that so many people are proud of.
“In a survey conducted by the Halifax Courier’s Love Your Town campaign, eight out of 10 local people felt that The Piece Hall is the best thing about the town.
“Calderdale Council’s 2019 Visitor Economic Survey identified The Piece Hall as being a key factor in the 14 per cent increase in tourism experienced in the borough.
“All of this is evidence of our ongoing contribution to the local economy and our important role in helping improve people’s lives and livelihoods,” she said.
The Piece Hall cost £22 million to renovate and £2.5 million start-up costs, but has already returned in excess of £26 million to the borough’s economy by playing a major role in increasing tourism, says the report.
Since re-opening on August 1, 2017, seven million visitors have come through its doors of the restored 18th century former cloth hall – 2.5 million of them in 2019-20 – with the survey showing 84 per cent of visitors to Halifax had come because of the Piece Hall.
This brings benefit to other businesses, fulfilling the remit agreed when the council began providing some funding of it being a main driver of the economy.
Historic England has described the Piece Hall’s business model for a building of this type as “exemplar”.
Calderdale Council’s Chief Executive, Robin Tuddenham, says the Piece Hall is a part of the borough’s heritage and now also cementing Calderdale’s place on the map as an international cultural destination.
Trust Chair Roger Marsh believes the money invested in the Piece Hall has purposed it for the future.
He said the pandemic has caused significant financial challenges for organisations and businesses of all sizes and sectors but funders had recognised its importance, including the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, National Lottery Heritage Fund, Arts Council England, Historic England, The Foyle Foundation and Garfield Weston Foundation.
“We are in a strong financial position and ready to support Calderdale’s post-pandemic recovery.
“Prior to the pandemic, I remain proud of the work and economic uplift that The Piece Hall Trust has achieved in three short years.
“It really has created a sense of pride at a local and regional level.
“Our aim remains to take The Piece Hall to nationally and internationally iconic status in the future and continue to create an ‘extraordinary’ economic return to the people of Calderdale,” he said.
We are in a strong financial position and ready to support Calderdale’s postpandemic recovery
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