Dewsbury Arcade officially opens its doors for first time in decade
Dewsbury Arcade has officially opened its doors for the first time in a decade.
The arcade had stood empty since 2016 before being purchased by Kirklees Council. In collaboration with the Dewsbury Neighbourhood Board and the Arcade Group, this is one of the flagship projects in the Dewsbury Blueprint.
The arcade will be the UK’s first community-run shopping centre, leased and managed by the Arcade Group, with the grand opening being held today (Sept 5).
Previously, Neighbourhood Board member and Chair of the Arcade Board, Jackie Ramsay, said she “couldn’t wait” for the arcade to be full of tenants.
The restoration has also been supported by £4.4 million from The National Lottery Heritage Fund. Speaking on the grand opening, Heritage Minister Baroness Twycross said: “As the Prime Minister has been clear: the people best placed to make decisions about a local area are the people who live there. They know how best to support their historic buildings.
“Projects like (Dewsbury Market) are bringing incredible benefits all over the country. Our heritage spaces, whether it’s pubs, parks or a Stone Age burial mound, are the pride of our communities, and lottery funding enables their local areas to thrive.”