Key part of blueprint for town’s future wins seal of approval

West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA) has approved Kirklees Council’s business case for a major part of the Holmfirth Blueprint.

The Holmfirth Blueprint focuses on five objectives for the town: Bringing Holmfirth’s streets to life; Helping the local economy thrive; Making the town centre accessible for everyone; Putting the River Holme back at the heart of the town; and Finding ways to celebrate and build on Holmfirth’s identity.

Central to this programme is the Town Centre Access Plan and WYCA has now agreed to the council’s business case for this part of the blueprint – a significant step forward to securing £7.47m worth of funding.

The Town Centre Access Plan aims to introduce wider pavements and better crossings, creating more space for pedestrians.

Also, the council will reassess parking in the town centre, which will include creating a new multi-use car park and events space. Work on the Town Centre Access Plan is due to start this summer.

Other elements of the Blueprint will continue to be progressed and the council is exploring how spaces in Holmfirth can be repurposed.

As well as creating a multi-use car park and events space, it is examining the option of relocating the Royal Mail sorting office to outside the town centre to free up space for a new development.

Holmfirth is just one of four towns for which Kirklees Council is currently developing blueprints – along with Batley, Heckmondwike and Cleckheaton. These blueprints will help lay out the next 10 to 15 years of development for each of the town centres.

Councillor Graham Turner, cabinet member for growth & regeneration, said: “Our blueprint plans across Kirklees are about preserving the heritage of our towns and villages, while giving them the brightest possible future.

“Holmfirth is already one of Kirklees’ bustling beauty spots, and we now want to celebrate and enhance that identity as much as possible.

“The Holmfirth Blueprint is about making the town centre more appealing to visitors, but also as a place where people can put down roots and become part of a great community.

“We want to bring these streets to life and help the town thrive, and the Holmfirth Town Centre Access Plan is a big part of that.”