KIRKLEES COUNCIL SET TO APPROVE £600,000 GRANT TO REPLACE ‘OUT OF KEEPING’ SHOPFRONTS IN JOHN WILLIAM STREET

A Huddersfield town center street is poised to undergo a transformation as plans to replace seven shopfronts, deemed incongruent with the historical character, gain traction. Kirklees Council is expected to greenlight a grant amounting to £610,500, covering 80% of the expenses for the Grade II-listed three-storey terrace. The proposal, which has already secured planning permission, entails swapping contemporary metal shopfront frames with more traditional timber counterparts.

On December 21, the Kirklees Council Cabinet will deliberate on granting £610,500 to B&M Properties, the owners of 19-33a John William Street, encompassing establishments like Supersam European Supermarket, African Food Centre, Legends Barber Shop, and Fix My Phone. The financial support will be drawn from the Heritage-Led Regeneration Scheme (HLRS), a capital grant initiative sanctioned by the Cabinet in February 2019.

Acknowledging the slow initiation of the scheme due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the report to the Cabinet outlines that £1.2 million has been committed so far. Four buildings have been completed, with an additional six undergoing assessment. Complaints about the current shopfronts being inconsistent with the listed buildings prompted the Huddersfield Civic Society to advocate for improvements.

The report emphasizes that the existing shopfronts are of subpar quality, featuring a modern design that does not align with the historical significance of the listed structures. Recognizing the key gateway location of the building and its high architectural importance, the proposed grant amounts to 80% of the overall project costs, covering 100% of the professional fees.

Crucially, the scheme is deemed economically unviable without financial assistance from the council. To safeguard the grant funding, the council will scrutinize and disburse payments based on submitted invoices. Clawback provisions, title restrictions, and overage conditions are proposed in the grant agreement, particularly if the property changes hands within a 10-year period.

If approved, the renovation work is slated to commence in February 2024, with completion anticipated by September 2024. Cabinet member for regeneration, Clr Graham Turner, underscores the dual focus on future town center developments and the preservation of heritage. Turner expresses a commitment to realizing the potential of the buildings, ensuring their functionality and prosperity for years to come on one of Huddersfield’s bustling streets.