Holmfirth: 'Exciting time' for Yorkshire town centre as market is bulldozed as part of revamp

This comes as part of the Holmfirth Town Centre Access Plan (TCAP) which is a feature of the town’s wider ‘Blueprint’ project. The TCAP involves the demolition of the former market, with dramatic images taken last week showing the transformation in the works.

The adjacent Huddersfield Road Car Park will be extended to provide a new community space for a market and events. On top of this, electric vehicle points will be added, the footbridge and footpaths widened and new kerbing will be installed.

To improve town centre safety, pavements will be resurfaced and the pedestrian crossing on Victoria Street will be signalised. Better street lighting, traffic signals and signage will also be brought in.

The cost of the project has skyrocketed over the years, forecasting £3.9m in 2021, then £7.47m in March last year. Now, this figure stands at £10.3m.

Councillor Graham Turner, cabinet member for finance and regeneration at Kirklees Council, said: “The Holmfirth Blueprint is our long-term vision for Holmfirth Town Centre.

"Holmfirth Town Centre Access Plan is the first regeneration scheme to be delivered under the blueprint and will help to realise the vision and achieve the objectives of the Blueprint, residents will have already seen that our teams are on-site and demolition of the Holmfirth market is underway.

“While we have been planning for the town centre access plan to come to life, we’ve also worked closely with Holmfirth Blueprint Partnership to deliver additional projects including place branding for the town centre, improved riverside walkways through Sands Recreational Ground and along the River Holme, brought new and improved play equipment to Sands Rec and Victoria Park and have also appointed a local design team to help design concepts for Towngate, which we’ll be engaging with the public on later this year.

“It’s an exciting time for Holmfirth and I’m looking forward to being able to share more updates soon.’’

The TCAP is being delivered between Kirklees Council and the West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA) and aims to reduce traffic congestion and carbon emissions by prioritising sustainable transport and boost accessibility and the cultural sector.