Approval for Kingsgate’s new cinema and food court – the first step for exciting Huddersfield regeneration plans
The big screen is coming to Huddersfield Town Centre with the council approving plans for a new multi-screen cinema in Kingsgate Shopping Centre.
When was the decision made?
On 20 June, 2019 Kirklees Council’s Planning Committee approved plans to convert the current units occupied by House of Fraser in Huddersfield into several restaurants and a street food area on the lower ground floor with a nine-screen cinema on the upper floor of Kingsgate.
Kingsgate are in advanced discussions about the cinema operator and announcement is imminent.
What else is planned?
The plans – submitted by WD Kingsgate Ltd — also include an extension to the roof to create a roof terrace Sky Bar. An external slide will also be built, so people can travel from the bar to the lobby of the cinema.
Kirklees Council has provided a £7 million loan to help bring the scheme to life.
These approved plans support a bigger announcement for the whole of Huddersfield Town Centre which Kirklees Council is making on 26 June.
Cllr Peter McBride, Cabinet Member for Regeneration, said:
“I’m delighted that these plans have been approved. This will be a fantastic asset for the town and offers visitors something different to do in Huddersfield Town Centre.
We can no longer rely on retail alone to have thriving town centres and it’s fantastic to see our local business thinking of new and innovative ways to attract people.
We’re an ambitious council with big plans and it’s exciting times for Huddersfield and the rest of Kirklees. On 26 June we will be making a big announcement about Huddersfield Town Centre and these plans will form part of that. Stay tuned to find out what we have in store.”
Peter Everest of Kingsgate owners WD (Kingsgate), said:
“I’m proud, after so much work by our team, that we have reached the turning point of achieving this planning consent for our proposal to modernise Kingsgate and to see it evolve into a fully-integrated and engaging shopping, leisure and lifestyle destination that will, in turn, invigorate Huddersfield.
We’ll be announcing some of the details around our own plans before long now and look forward to delivering an innovative and community-connected Kingsgate centre for the years ahead.”
What are the council going to do about shops where people can buy good quality clothes the town will be for young people only. No Mark’s &Spencer and the no house of Fraser by the looks of it. People money for shopping will go esle where. We have a cinema complex already why have another.
Really pleased to see this, I hope it makes a difference to our town. Let’s hope they start the work as soon as possible. Following the depressing documentary about the drug dealing and stabbings in our town we certainly need some good news.