Construction on Huddersfield Our Cultural Heart regeneration programme is progressing, with the first phase well under way. Phase 1 includes a new library hub, food hall and public square, with completion planned for summer 2026. The library will also accommodate the West Yorkshire Archive, and a preferred tenant has been identified to operate the food hall.

Plans for Phase 2 are due to be considered on 9 September by Kirklees Council’s Cabinet. This stage of the scheme will see the former library redeveloped into a combined museum and art gallery, alongside significant improvements to the surrounding public realm. If approved, construction is scheduled to begin in spring 2026 and complete in spring 2029.

Preparations are also being made for the demolition of the remaining Piazza retail units in 2026, paving the way for the delivery of a new town centre park in Phase 3.

Councillor Graham Turner, Cabinet Member for Finance and Regeneration, said: “Cabinet will be asked to approve the next steps to keep this transformation moving forward. Residents will see the first results when the new library hub, food hall and public square open in 2026, and we are already preparing for the phases that follow, including the museum & gallery and a brand-new town centre park. This is about building a town centre that works for everyone — families, businesses, students and visitors — while making sure we do it in a way that is affordable and sustainable for the future.”

The Our Cultural Heart scheme, as part of the Huddersfield Blueprint, is designed to create hundreds of new jobs, support existing businesses and attract new investment, while providing free-to-access spaces for residents and visitors. It will also act as a catalyst for wider regeneration, complementing other major projects in Huddersfield and wider Kirklees district.

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