By Leah Conway –
Kirklees Council has reported a progress update on Dewsbury town centre regeneration projects.
Council officers will present a report to the Economy and Neighbourhood Scrutiny Panel. The report will set out progress to date and plans for the future of the town.
The Dewsbury Blueprint underpins the planned ‘regeneration’ of Dewsbury town.
Part of the blueprint includes creating more open spaces, shops and leisure opportunities in an attempt to attract visitors and families to come together in the town centre.
Key projects detailed in the report include:
- Dewsbury Market
- Dewsbury Arcade
- Fieldhouse and Daisy Hill residential opportunities
- Dewsbury Town Park
- Creative Culture Programme
- Dewsbury Revival Grant Scheme
- Dewsbury Bus Station.
In early June, the government announced that it would support the Dewsbury town investment plan with £24.8 million from the town’s fund.
Work that has already taken place across Dewsbury town centre include key projects such as Pioneer House, Dewsbury Rail Station Forecourt and the Springfield Centre.
“Exciting time for Dewsbury”
Councillor Eric Firth, Cabinet Member for Town Centres, said: “This is a very exciting time for Dewsbury, we have successfully delivered a number of key projects, but our ambitions go a lot further, and rightly so. Residents, businesses and visitors to Dewsbury will experience an energised town that they want to invest and spend time in.
The intention is to honour the heritage of this beautiful town whilst making it attractive to the modern-day visitor, from young families to entrepreneurs and everyone in between. Our town centre will be welcoming, inclusive and accessible to all.
I am in full support of the plans and look forward to seeing even more projects being delivered.”
Another part of the future plans for Dewsbury is to commit to healthy and sustainable travel by improving cycle and pedestrian routes in the town, which will also offer more connectivity across the town.
The updates will be presented, in detail, to the scrutiny panel on 13 July 2021.