By Oliver Gibson –
Halifax Bus Station is due to undergo a complete redevelopment later this year.
This comes after the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, a body comprised of council leaders and the Mayor of West Yorkshire, approved plans that had been submitted by the Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership.
Redesign and Rework
The new station will combine the remaining classic architecture, such as the gable-roofed Zion Chapel, with modern building elements.
It is hoped that the new station will reflect and compliment the newly redeveloped Square Chapel arts and performance centre, as well as the famous Piece Hall, and further the goal of renewing Halifax’s town centre and making the county’s metropolitan regions more commercially competitive.
The redevelopment will cost approximately £15.8 million and this will be covered by the Transforming Cities Fund.
The work is expected to start later this year and is aimed to be completed by 2023
What the new station will offer
The new bus station will make some basic but significant improvements such as new toilet facilities and seating areas.
The new station will also feature improved retail facilities.
The current station features one small shop and leaves much to be desired.
Space for a café will also be included in the new station and this will make long waits for buses less stressful.
Importantly, the new station will provide indoor seating and waiting areas.
The current station, on the other hand, is open-air and features no seating, with travellers having to make do with uncomfortable walls.
The new station will not only be more pleasant to spend time in but also a degree safer – as people waiting for buses late at night will be covered by CCTV.
Redevelopment of Halifax town centre
After the new bus station is completed, which will be in 2023, Halifax is to undergo further changes.
Market Street, which is half a minute on foot away from the bus station, is to be pedestrianised – transforming the commercial landscape of the town.
Trees will also be planted along that street, making it more aesthetically pleasing and distinctive. Such efforts also improve street air quality.
52,000 feet of retail space will soon open next to Halifax Trinity Sixth Form Centre.
Both of those made use of an existing site that formally included Halifax’s library and various council offices.
Redevelopment drives around West Yorkshire
Similar plans are also underway around the county and others have already been completed. In fact, the devolution deal that was brokered last year provided funding for such changes.
Halifax
As mentioned previously, Halifax has experienced two major redevelopments in the last few years.
The Piece Hall, Halifax’s most unique retail area, was drastically refurbished, though in a way that respected the pre-existing architecture.
Especially since the end of lockdown, that space is being visited far more than it ever was before.
Square Chapel, the major arts and performance centre, has also been rejuvenated.
Bradford
Bradford’s Centenary Square is to be redeveloped once again and this will drastically improve its city centre.
Huddersfield
Huddersfield will soon see a major redevelopment of its own.
The area around the Piazza Centre is to be completely redeveloped and this will rejuvenate its town centre and stimulate the economy.
New retail opportunities will present themselves and investors will hopefully be drawn in, providing new jobs and services for the people of Kirklees and West Yorkshire.
WYCA has an album of rendered visuals of the exterior of Halifax’s new station on their website.
The full plans for Halifax can be found here.