Town’s historic gem set to be revitalised and become a magnet for tourists
The news that the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) have given the scheme £7m was hailed as a major boost for the town which it is hoped will attract more visitors.
At the heart of the £19m scheme is the creation of a courtyard piazza which will see the Piece Hall’s famous cobbles taken up - a move that has proved unpopular with some.
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Hide AdYesterday a Calderdale Council spokesperson said: “As part of the Piece Hall transformation project, the courtyard will be redesigned to improve access for a wider group of people. This involves lifting the cobbles and using authentic materials, notably Yorkshire stone. The cobbles are not original.”
The piazza will be used to stage events and the scheme will also offer a visitor and heritage centre offering an insight into the history of the building; shops; workspaces for businesses and a venue for conferences and meetings.
Fiona Spiers, Head of the Heritage Lottery Fund for Yorkshire and Humber (HLF), said: “The Piece Hall’s courtyard has huge potential as an open civic space and popular tourist destination. We’re very pleased to have awarded £7m to help create a vibrant piazza which will retain the integrity of the 18th century architecture and celebrate its role in West Yorkshire history.”
Coun Tim Swift, the leader of Calderdale Council, welcomed the news saying: “A revitalised Piece Hall will be a magnet for visitors, offering a spectacular heritage attraction and public space and excellent leisure and retail business opportunities.
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Hide Ad“This will be of huge economic benefit to the town and to Calderdale as a borough.”
The whole project is expected to cost £19m and will require significant investment from the council and other sources. But the £7m investment from the HLF was key to the project going ahead.
Work is expected to commence in late 2013 and will be done in phases to enable the Piece Hall to remain open throughout. It is expected to be completed in 2015, when its running will transfer to an independent Trust.