A bold new vision to transform Halifax is set to be discussed by Calderdale Council’s Cabinet.
At the Cabinet meeting on Monday 12 January 2026, Councillors will be asked to approve the Halifax 2036 Place Vision. This sets out an ambitious way forward for the town centre over the next 10 years, building on its strengths to create an even more vibrant, inclusive and resilient place.
The vision is shaped by what local people and organisations have said is important to them. It also identifies actions to support Calderdale Council’s priorities for thriving towns and places, to reduce inequalities and to take action to tackle climate change.
The vision will be used to direct future investment in the town, and to help organisations and communities work together to bid for future grants. This ensures that regenerating the town is a joint approach and meets everyone’s needs.
In support of the Vision 34 for Calderdale, the Halifax 2036 Place Vision focuses on making creativity, enterprise and opportunity a significant part of everyday life.
Cllr Jane Scullion, Calderdale Council’s Leader, said:
“Halifax is a place of innovation and business, rich culture and heritage, strong local pride and community spirit, and it’s already benefitting from an exciting time of unprecedented investment to help make life better for everyone. And it was named the fifth happiest place to live in Yorkshire by Rightmove recently.
“The 2036 Place Vision embraces all of this and uses it as the starting point to create an even stronger future where everyone thrives, in vibrant communities, where businesses can grow, people live healthy, fulfilled lives and feel supported, and we protect our environment.
“It’s about being proud of our past, and even more excited about what’s to come. A town where together, we get things done. This is what builds a thriving town, place and economy.”
Through the Place Vision, the joint objectives are for Halifax to be:
- An innovative, creative and enterprising town: maximising the town’s economic growth through its can-do attitude.
- An accessible town: making it easier and healthier to get around the town.
- A liveable town: increasing access to good-quality homes, jobs, opportunities and services.
- A healthy, happy and hopeful town: creating a place that people enjoy and where they feel safe, secure, happy and truly at home.
- A historic and cultural town: building on its existing profile as a cultural, heritage and filming destination to benefit the whole community and attract more visitors, future residents and investors.
- A green and resilient town: bringing more green spaces and nature into the heart of the town to boost health, wellbeing and climate resilience.
To meet the objectives, the Council and other organisations, businesses and community groups will work in partnership to:
- Grow our inclusive and creative economy –driving skills, enterprise and innovation.
- Strengthen our social foundations–supporting community life through civic spaces and working with the voluntary and community sector.
- Connect our people and places –improving the way we move through town.
- Reimagine our town centre – creating new uses for vacant spaces to create a vibrant, mixed-use town centre.
- Transform our gateway neighbourhoods –delivering new homes, green spaces and mixed-use developments to create sustainable, well-connected communities.
- Unlock the Hebble Valley arc –reconnecting Halifax with nature through greenery, riverside living and climate resilience.
The Halifax 2036 Place Vision will be discussed at Calderdale Council’s Cabinet meeting on Monday 12 January at Halifax Town Hall from 4pm. The meeting will also be live streamed online at https://calderdale.public-i.tv/core/portal/home(external link)
Think you know Halifax? Think again. It’s an inspiring time for Halifax. Discover your part in it(external link).
The Halifax 2036 Place Vision supports Vision 34 – a shared, long-term ambition to work towards to make Calderdale a better place for everyone, based on the stories that unite us.
The Vision 34 themes are enterprising, opportunity, kind, welcoming, hope, heritage, nature and creativity. Through these themes, organisations and people from all walks of life are encouraged to share their positive stories about life in Calderdale.
Share your story on the My Calderdale Story website: https://my.walls.io/mycalderdalestory(external link)