Garden plan to ‘reimagine town centre’
NEW GREEN OUTDOOR SPACES
FINAL designs have been agreed for the rejuvenation of a “strategically important” area of Huddersfield town centre.
They include the creation of a “garden street” - a green space to encourage a cafe-street culture where people can eat outdoors.
It’s just over a year since Kirklees Council’s decision-making Cabinet agreed to pump £5.25m into improvements on New Street, Cloth Hall Street and Market Place.
Now, following public feedback on the intricate and complex project dubbed the Huddersfield Blueprint, the authority has unveiled designs to support its £250m vision for the town.
The design will transform New Street, between Ramsden Street and the junction with Market Place, into a garden street with social green areas and planted areas, complete with integrated seating and artwork.
What has been described as an “attractive, green space at the heart of the town’s shopping area” is aimed at offering more options for people to eat and socialise outdoors.
Posts and bollards will be reduced on both streets to create wider footways and more open spaces that allow pedestrians to move more easily across the town.
The council says the larger, flexible spaces that will be created on New Street could also be used for future pop-up markets and other outdoor events.
In addition road and pavement surfaces will be replaced with “new quality materials” to improve the kerb appeal for existing businesses and to encourage new businesses to the area.
The council believes that additional green spaces in the town centre are “a positive step” in support of its declared Climate Emergency and, once works are completed, it expects improvements will boost economic recovery following the Covid-19 pandemic by drawing people into the town.
Deputy leader of Kirklees Council, Clr Peter McBride, said the development in the heart of the town demonstrated the council’s desire to revitalise the area for shoppers, visitors and businesses.
He commented: “Shopping habits and social attitudes have changed, even before the recent pandemic restrictions were introduced. So, simply continuing as we were is not an option.
“Instead, we’re reimagining the town centre to become a place where people can come safely together in a cleaner, greener, family-friendly environment. “One that we can all take pride in. “The introduction of an outdoor cafe-culture, pop-up markets and space for events will bring an energy to the town centre with vibrant colour and aromatic smells to entice people to shop, stop, stay and play.
“This increased footfall will boost both the daytime and evening economies on offer and will, in turn, generate local business growth and investment in the town.”
Two public online events will take place on December 16 at noon and December 17 at 5.30pm with a third specifically targeted for local businesses on December 14 at 5.30pm.
The plans and details of how to join the online events can be found at www. kirklees.gov.uk/newstreet