Radical changes from road scheme
Second phase of town plans approved
PLANNING: Ambitious £120m plans to improve a major road are set to bring radical changes to Halifax town centre after councillors approved proposals.
The second phase of plans designed to improve the A629 linking Halifax and Huddersfield were given the go-ahead by Calderdale Council’s Planning Committee this week.
AMBITIOUS £120M plans to improve a major road are set to bring radical changes to Halifax town centre after councillors approved proposals.
The second phase of plans designed to improve the A629 linking Halifax and Huddersfield were given the go-ahead by Calderdale Council’s Planning Committee on Tuesday, with a full business case due to be submitted to West Yorkshire Combined Authority in July.
Work will see public space developed, pedestrianisation of Market Street and parts of Commercial Street and Northgate, better bus and rail interchanges, highway widening and junction improvements, and creation of a “bus box” to improve services.
The scheme should have been considered last summer but the Grade II listing of the former Hughes Corporation bar building, which was originally due to have been demolished, meant the plans were taken back to the drawing board.
Councillors were happier with the new proposals and after they had questioned officers on aspects, Coun Paul Bellenger (Lib Dem, Greetland and Stainland) proposed the plans be approved.
“I think it’s far better than the original plan,” he told the meeting. “I am happy to see the changes with this proposal.”
Coun David Kirton (Con, Hipperholme and Lightcliffe) agreed,
saying: “I am pleased that now we have got the building safe.”
Council officers said other major changes to the proposals would include public space at the Eastern Gateway and 22 parking
I am pleased that now we have got the building safe.
Coun David Kirton on plans for the former Hughes Corporation bar building. spaces being kept at Bull Green, albeit in remodelled form.
The new scheme comes after Halifax’s Grade I listed Piece Hall, the sole survivor of the great 18th century northern cloth halls, has been restored and brought back into public use over the last few years.
Councillors heard the revised plans will rebalance traffic between eastern and western sides of town, with planning officers viewing the scheme as a sustainable one that would help build the economy, bring health benefits and improve the environment and social regeneration of town and borough.
Coun Paul Bellenger (Lib Dem, Greetland and Stainland) was concerned that there should still be vehicular access to Woolshops and was told this was the case, although there would be road layout changes.
Coun Stephen Baines (Con, Northowram and Shelf) asked if businesses had been consulted and how employment might be affected.
Richard Binks, programme manager for the West Yorkshire Plus Transport Fund at the council, said they had been consulted, resulting in the parking spaces being saved at Bull Green.
Coun Jenny Lynn (Lab, Park) had concerns about more traffic being relocated to the western side of town and hoped to see better pedestrian links between her ward and the town centre from Gibbet Street, although she was happy to see the “ghastly” underpasses at Pellon Lane removed.