Huddersfield: £610,000 grant bid to revamp historic building shop fronts

Modern shop fronts in a Huddersfield street could get a more traditional look if a grant is approved.

John William Street is made up of stone-fronted, Grade II-listed Victorian buildings with ground level shops and flats on the upper floors.

A council report says the shop fronts between 19 and 33a are "poor quality".

B&M Properties is now seeking a grant of £610,500 to replace the row of modern metal-framed shop fronts with more traditional timber frontages.

The money would also be used to bring empty properties back into use.

The location is part of Huddersfield's town centre conservation area and concern has been raised by Historic England over the quality of the shop fronts.

According to a council report, the existing shop fronts between 19 and 33a John William Street were modern in design and were not felt appropriate for their historic surroundings.

The retail units, which were built between 1851 and 1858, are currently occupied by newsagents, grocers, hairdressers and hot food takeaways - all having metal-framed shop fronts and fascias which are overly illuminated, it added.

The cash would come from Kirklees Council's Heritage-Led Regeneration Scheme (HLRS), which aims to support regeneration in the town and give empty units a new use, making the town more inviting to visitors and residents, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Councillor Graham Turner, cabinet member for finance and regeneration, said: "While we're very much looking to the future with all our town centre developments, we're also future-proofing our beautiful heritage.

"These buildings, on one of Huddersfield's busiest streets, have so much potential. We want to see that potential realised, and make sure they remain not only functional but thriving for many years to come."

The grant support will be considered at a meeting on Thursday.

If approved, construction is expected to begin in March 2024.

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