Councillors and Calderdale students have been viewing progress at the Northgate site in Halifax, as work begins on the next phase of this exciting development.
As part of the wider transformation of Halifax, Calderdale Council is planning to renovate its vacant former office building, Northgate House, to provide more than 40,000 square foot of high quality office space with new retail units on the ground floor.
Funding to support this outstanding town centre office and retail opportunity has now been formally approved by the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, allowing the Council to progress this exciting flagship project. In addition, a brand new sixth form centre is being jointly developed by Calderdale Council, Trinity Multi-Academy Trust and Rastrick High School in the former Halifax Central Library.
On Friday 8 March, the Leader of Calderdale Council Cllr Tim Swift and the Cabinet Member for Children and Young People’s Services, Cllr Megan Swift, visited the site, along with prospective sixth form centre students.
Visitors were able to see the site following the work to strip out the old fixtures and fittings, just as work starts on the first stage of the transformation project.
Initial works will include the installation of new roofing and the replacement of windows, starting on the Gaol Lane side of the development.
Work is also taking place in the outdoor areas with new hoardings now in place and the old courtyard and paving areas being removed prior to laying out of a new landscaped courtyard and additional college accommodation.
The Leader of Calderdale Council, Cllr Tim Swift, said:
“It was great to visit the Northgate site, in the heart of Halifax, and see the work that has been taking place to ensure the building is ready for the next stage of the development.
“The end product will be an impressive new facility, which will increase footfall, trade and jobs in Halifax town centre.
“The Northgate transformation will complement the regeneration work taking place right across Calderdale through an unprecedented level of investment, creating a place where people want to invest, live, work, visit and learn.”
The work on the old Northgate House side of the development is being part funded by the West Yorkshire Combined Authority through the Leeds City Region Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) Growth Deal – a £1 billion package of Government investment delivered in partnership with the West Yorkshire Combined Authority to accelerate growth and create jobs across Leeds City Region.
Cllr Peter Box, Chair of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority Investment Committee and Leader of Wakefield Council, said:
“We are pleased to be using Growth Deal funding to support this landmark project which will deliver office and retail space alongside an important new sixth form centre bringing new opportunities to young people in Halifax and beyond.
“Across the region we are supporting projects delivering better college facilities, improving transport links, protecting homes and businesses from flooding and supporting business growth.”
The state-of-the-art offices and shops are expected to be complete and available to let by summer 2020.
The new sixth form will open in autumn 2019 and students will move to Northgate House in January 2020. It will initially be able to accommodate up to 600 students, growing to 1000 students to meet increasing student demand.
The Northgate transformation is part of the Next Chapter to enable economic growth, reduce inequalities and build a sustainable future. For more information about this and other exciting developments in Calderdale, visit www.calderdalenextchapter.co.uk(external link) and follow #CdaleNextChapter on Twitter.
The Next Chapter helps to form the Vision2024 for Calderdale. In the year 2024, Calderdale will celebrate its 50th birthday. Where do we want to be by 2024? What’s our ambition and what will be different? Get involved in the conversation using #VisionCdale2024 on Twitter, by following Calderdale Council on Facebook and by visiting www.calderdale.gov.uk/vision
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