The first scheme in Huddersfield’s £250 million Blueprint is set to get underway this summer.

Changes to the layout of Cross Church Street, Queen Street and King Street are scheduled to begin in August 2020.

The £2.1 million road scheme which will see permanent changes to how people access the town centre by foot, bike or motorised vehicle were subject to a public consultation in July 2019.

In recent years, some critics have suggested that the appeal of Huddersfield has been waning. 

But the changes, which are the first of many planned for the town centre, are designed to create a clean, attractive, family friendly environment that encourages people to spend time in the area which includes the town’s ‘Kingsgate’ shopping centre.

The aim is to increase footfall, which will in turn promote business growth and investment and, make it easier to travel by bike or foot linking up local cycle routes.

The main change that is taking place is a new pedestrian and cycle zone on Queen Street and King Street between the Lawrence Batley Theatre and Zetland Street, and on Cross Church Street between the Kingsgate Shopping Centre entrance and Kirkgate.

The zone will ban all motor vehicles except for hackney carriages, which will be permitted to use Queen Street and King Street. Loading will only be permitted between 6am and 10am and between 4pm and 8pm. In addition to pedestrians, these streets will also allow cyclists to travel in both directions.

Disabled parking will be available on Queen Street. The works which are expected to be completed within 12 months and are being delivered by Kirklees Council, through the West Yorkshire Combined Authority’s CityConnect programme, aimed at encouraging more people to travel by bike and on foot.

The council has published the necessary Traffic Regulation Orders, as well as amendments to the existing hackney carriage rank. Both documents are available to view on the council website.

To comment on the Traffic Regulation Orders visit www.kirklees.gov.uk/trafficregulation no later than 20 July 2020.

To comment on the Hackney Carriage Amendment visit www.kirklees.gov.uk/licensing no later than 26 July 2020.

Any objections to the scheme will be considered at a council’s Cabinet Committee Local Issues meeting.

Cllr Peter McBride, Cabinet Member for Regeneration said: “The council is committed to delivering our town centre blueprints, which will see our towns fulfil their potential as safe places to spend time whether that is for shopping, culture or leisure. The Cross Church Street area is right in the heart of the town, connecting the main shopping and leisure areas to the cultural heart, the proposed changes will see the areas public realm improved to make it cleaner, less cluttered and more attractive. By prioritising walking and cycling we can make sure our towns are ready to embrace both day and evening economies.”