The planning team behind our cultural heart of Huddersfield win a prestigious award

The planning team behind Huddersfield’s Cultural Heart regeneration scheme has won a prestigious award at the 2024 Planning Awards.

Led by development specialists Pegasus Group, the Cultural Heart planning team won the award for ‘Promoting a Healthy Town Centre’.

The award recognizes Kirklees Council’s strategy to unlock economic growth in the borough and was recognized by the judging panel for clearly demonstrating how the planning team and strategy will improve the town centre.

The Our Cultural Heart project has been described as a “master class in thoughtful, inclusive design, genuine and thorough stakeholder consultation and how to generate substantial benefits across the spectrum”.

Construction of the first phase of our Cultural Heart begins this summer. The first phase focuses on the major renovation of the historic former Queensgate Market building, which will be transformed into a vibrant new food hall. A new community library will also be incorporated into the existing east wing of the same building.

Both the food hall and library will open into a new public plaza for outdoor events and gatherings.

Regeneration director David Shepherd (right) with former leader of Kirklees Council Shabir Pandor

David Shepherd, Strategic Director for Growth and Regeneration at Kirklees Council, said: “I am delighted that the Our Cultural Heart development scheme and the council’s planning team have received the recognition they deserve and have won this highly competitive award.

“It demonstrates all the hard work undertaken, alongside the team at Pegasus, to make Our Cultural Heart what it is today.

“Our cultural heart will deliver fantastic long-term benefits for Huddersfield and the wider Kirklees borough and will transform the heart of the town centre.

“Bringing vibrancy to the area between Queensgate, Queen Street, King Street and Victoria Lane, this new cultural hive will provide a surprising, inclusive and social destination for all, encouraging visitors to stay longer in our city center and further stimulating our the economy. .

“We hope this award is the start of many more to come and sets the tone for future developments in our Kirklees town centres.”

Chris Calvert, chief executive at Pegasus Group, said: “The proposal to develop our cultural heart represents two years of hard work, involving substantial and proactive public consultation with key stakeholders.

“The cross-sector team saw the opportunity for transformative change and worked hard to design a proposition that was truly accessible to all people.

“The design team has undertaken considerable iterative and detailed design work, together with consultation with Kirklees Council and other relevant stakeholders, to produce a truly inclusive and vibrant development.

“The final approved scheme takes a significant step forward in diversifying the offer in the town and district, attracting people and businesses.

“It is a unique transformation which will bring substantial benefits to Huddersfield and beyond and we are delighted that the project has been recognized with a planning award.”

As well as Pegasus Group, the council’s project team during the planning process included Arup, Counter Context, FCB Studios, Queensberry, re-form and Turner & Townsend.

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