17 July 2024 Kirklees Council have shared brand new visuals, and more detail, on the planned improvements to Huddersfield Market.
Once completed, Huddersfield Market will provide an improved traditional market, a better food and beverage offering to complement the offering in the surrounding area, a more vibrant calendar of events, and more fresh and innovative support for local businesses and entrepreneurs to drive economic growth for the town centre.
The improvements – which are funded by £16.5million of UK government investment – are a key part of the Huddersfield Blueprint, the council’s wider masterplan for investment across the town centre. The council aims to create a more vibrant and sustainable market, building on the existing market on Northumberland Street, which will work cohesively with other neighbouring regeneration projects like improvements to New Street and St. Peter’s Gardens, and the upcoming development of Our Cultural Heart.
The updated concept designs include more details of both the ‘market hall’ and ‘market yard’, which together provide a mix of permanent leased units and demountable stalls. These concept designs will be subject to further development and public consultation later this year.
In the centre of the market hall will be a flexible area where stalls can make way to open up the space, catering to a wider variety of market-led activities and events. In this section of the market hall, there will also be a stage and screen to support the use of this space as an events venue. As with other blueprint projects, the council’s focus is not just giving people more reasons to visit Huddersfield but also giving them more reasons to stay longer in the town centre – driving more footfall not just for market traders but for all businesses across the town centre, from day through to night. 
Events could include more international markets, live music, makers’ markets, community events and a much improved offering around key calendar dates like Christmas. They could also include workshops and experiences led by stallholders and other local business owners for the members of the public.
Outside this central space, the market hall will also contain free-standing permanent stalls and self-contained commercial spaces suitable for lots of different offerings, as well as ample seating – including attractive mezzanine areas, which would offer an aerial view of the market, and a place to stop and rest whilst better enjoying the structure’s historic architecture. 
There will also be an outdoor market yard, which again will feature demountable stalls to support the market offering or provide a clear outdoor space for events.
The market yard will also be surrounded by affordable workspaces to be rented by local makers and entrepreneurs, who can then sell their goods on the market. 
The new market will provide a lot of bespoke support for businesses and traders. Areas of the market will be tailored to new start-ups, including units dedicated to entrepreneurs kickstarting new retail or food businesses, and a fully operational kitchen designed to provide a quality setup for pop-up cafés of all kinds. Business Kirklees, the council’s economy and growth service, will provide business support to these entrepreneurs via the market, with the aim of nurturing more local businesses to grow and thrive, and drive this value back into the local economy. 
Once completed, Huddersfield Market will offer an improved traditional market, a better food and beverage offering to complement the offering in the surrounding area, a more vibrant calendar of events, and more fresh and innovative support for local businesses and entrepreneurs to drive economic growth for the town centre.
The council plans to run a full public consultation on the designs for Huddersfield Market later this year, before which more concept designs will be released. This consultation will allow members of the public – local residents, businesses, or those who like to visit Huddersfield town centre – a chance to comment on the plans and give their input, ahead of construction work beginning in 2025.
Councillor Cathy Scott, Leader of Kirklees Council, says:
“Right across Huddersfield, our plans are to give people more reasons to come to the town centre – and reasons stay for longer periods of time. What we’re creating here is not just a better, more vibrant traditional market for Huddersfield but also a place the local community can come together.
“We also want Huddersfield to be a place where businesses can really thrive. Through this market we’ll be giving local entrepreneurs access to workspaces, equipment, business support and, above all, opportunities that can help get new businesses off the ground. We hope to see more traders using this market as a springboard, kickstarting new businesses with the potential to grow and succeed, seeing the visions of talented entrepreneurs realised, and driving value right back into our local economy as a bonus.
“By the time we consult on all these plans later this year, we’ll be able to share more concept designs and more about how the market – particularly its versatility to support an eclectic events calendar – will run once completed. It’s an exciting time for the Huddersfield Blueprint, and for the future of Huddersfield.” |
