Council HQ faces bulldozers - only 30 years after it was built

Although it was built only 30 years ago Northgate House, which houses around 500 council staff at its administrative HQ, would need up to £15m of renovation and changes in working practices mean it might no longer be required.

There is still a question mark over what might happen to the central library but moving it up the road to the £40m Broad Street retail development will not be among the options put to the next cabinet meeting, said Calderdale Council’s economy and environment spokesman Barry Collins.

Detailed options for the Northgate area will be put to the cabinet on Monday, October 31.

Conservative group leader Stephen Baines has repeated his commitment to retain the library and archives despite a developer offering to build a replacement and a huge clothes store at Northgate.

Coun Baines (Northowram and Shelf) said: “The library and archives should not be included.”

One option for the cabinet to consider is whether to sell the Northgate House site - which is a prime retail location - to Broad Street developer Gregory Property Group.

Yesterday, its managing director David Brimblecombe said he was still very interested in purchasing the site which it is understood would cost the group around £4m.

The highly successful Broad Street development, which is 90 per cent let, is due to be completed in April next year when it is expected to be sold on to one of the huge insurance groups such as Legal & General or Standard Life.

If Calderdale did sell it to Gregory’s the idea would be to erect a 100,000 sq ft two-storey building at Northgate, almost half of which would be occupied by Primark with whom the group has already held discussions.

Mr Brimblecombe said: “We made an offer to Calderdale that we thought was attractive to them. Their rates bill on the whole of Northgate House was more than their occupancy costs would have been in our scheme.

“Buying that site would cement connectivity between Broad Street and the shopping heart of Halifax.

“It’s a fairly open secret that Primark want a presence in the town and the town is crying out for such a store so of course we are interested.”

Coun Collins (Lab, Illingworth and Mixenden) said “The developers’ proposals have never been formally discussed and neither will they be among the options.”

Of the Broad Street development he added: “The council is delighted with the progress so far and looking forward to its completion early next year.”

In 2009, 15,000 people signed a petition - the largest the town has ever seen - to preserve the library which is used annually by 384,500 borrowers and people attending meetings.

Colin Stout (Ind, Brighouse) said the council should keep the library and archive, and hold an inquiry into why after only 30 years Northgate House seemed unfit for purpose.

Howard Blagbrough (Con, Brighouse) favoured redevelopment but insisted the views of residents must be taken into account.

Colin Raistrick (Ind, Hipperholme and Lightcliffe) said “Moving the library and archive would be hideously expensive and would lead to a reduction in the quality of services and usage.”

Martin Peel (Con, Sowerby Bridge) said he would like to see a shopping centre at Northgate which encompassed the library and archive.

Keith Hutson (Lib-Dem, Warley) said he would keep the existing library if it was practical. After years in the doldrums Halifax appears at last to have a bright future. Yesterday the Yorkshire Post reported plans for a £25m shopping centre in the south of the town centre.