Work begins on £210m Huddersfield regeneration

BAM is the lead contractor for phase one of a major cultural transformation in Huddersfield. 

Kirklees Council has approved a further £5.6 million of funding to finalise the project’s delivery programme. 

‘Our Cultural Heart’ will include the refurbishment and construction of mixed-used community sites as part of the 10-year Huddersfield Blueprint vision in the town centre. 

BAM will begin construction in early 2024, with the council expecting to complete the entire scheme in March 2026. 

Inside phase one 

Initial works will involve refurbishing the Queensgate Market site into a food hall, modern library, and outdoor public space. 

Before the refurbishment, BAM will deliver various site surveys and preparation works throughout 2023. 

The firm expects to complete phase one in Winter 2025. 

Full scope 

Spanning 39,850 sqm, the heritage-led regeneration will include: 

• A museum and art gallery in the former town library. 
• The construction of a potential STEM facility.
• A new 2,200-person indoor event venue. 
• A 350-space car park. 

The centre will be a traffic-free zone for pedestrians and cyclists, and architect Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios has used low-energy design principles to align with the council’s goal to reach net zero by 2038. 

The regeneration expects to create around 460 jobs in the local area and generate £10.5 million annually in social value. 

Partners 

The council’s delivery team includes the following firms: 

• Arup: structures, M&E, acoustic, transport, lighting and fire consultants. 
• Etude and Sustainable Construction Group: sustainability consultants. 
• Queensberry Real Estate: development manager.
• Jane Simpson Access: access consultant. 
• Pegasus Group: planning consultants. 
• Turner & Townsend: project manager. 
• Pixelflakes / The Collective: CGIs.

“[The project] will allow us to build on the work we are doing at Huddersfield Station and the new Daphne Steele Building for the University, where we are working to leave a positive community legacy, as well as delivering outstanding new buildings and infrastructure,” said Paul Cleminson, BAM’s project director for Our Cultural Heart. 

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