Historic Piece Hall transformation plan takes step forward

Construction work on the currently closed Piece Hall in Halifax town centre is due to begin and and work continues behind the scenes on the management structure for when it reopens in 2016.

The project is being overseen by the Piece Hall Trust which has recently become a limited company and will take ownership of the Piece Hall from Calderdale Council in 2016.

The Trust now has a chairman, Wayne Bowser, and five Trustees - Councillor Tim Swift, Fred Taggart, Roger Harvey, Rupinder Ashworth and Clive Lloyd. All six Trustees are also directors of the Piece Hall Trust limited company.

Wayne Bowser is one of the UK’s leading business finance and investment experts and recently retired as a director at HSBC.

He is on the boards of Leeds and Partners, Bradford Grammar School and cancer charity Marie Curie, amongst others. Trustees Roger Harvey and Clive Lloyd are from Calderdale, so they bring their considerable knowledge of the local area to the Piece Hall transformation.

Calderdale Council’s leader, Tim Swift, said: “The Piece Hall Trust becoming a limited company is a key step forward in the transformation project.

“In 2016 the Council will transfer ownership of the Piece Hall to the Trust, which is best placed to focus exclusively on the Grade I listed building’s future success, supported by its own dedicated team. The transformation project is a major part of our vision to regenerate Halifax town centre by investing in a range of leisure, retail and cultural facilities – and I’m confident that the Trust will help achieve this vision by successfully running the Piece Hall as a world-class attraction.”

Mr Bowser said: “The Trustees are enthusiastic and excited to be part of the future of the Piece Hall. We all bring a range of skills and expertise and I am confident that under our custody the Piece Hall will be a great success and an essential tourist destination for 2016 and beyond.”

The Piece Hall transformation project is funded by Calderdale Council and the Heritage Lottery Fund.

The work will see the creation of a new visitors’ centre, an extension and improved open space.