We have completed the purchase of Dewsbury’s Arcade building
We have taken our first big step towards delivering our Dewsbury Blueprint vision after completing the purchase of a key town centre building.
Delivering the Dewsbury Blueprint
The completion of the deal is our first major step in delivering on our ‘Dewsbury Blueprint’ vision – which launched in February 2020 and aims to create a family-friendly, active, accessible and attractive town centre.
At the launch event we confirmed we were in discussions with the owner of the Arcade to purchase the building and bring it back to life after it being closed for four years.
What are the next steps?
This week we have completed the purchase and we now own the building. Options are now being explored to reopen the Arcade – which connects Market Place to Corporation Street.
There will be a focus on bringing smaller independent and local businesses to the building with an eclectic mix of retail, leisure and community facilities. Details and proposals are being drawn up over the next 12 months with an aim to reopen the Arcade in 2022.
Some initial work to improve the appearance of the building – which was built between 1895 and 1899 – will take place over the next few months.
Councillor Shabir Pandor, Leader of Kirklees Council, said:
“This shows just how serious we are about delivering on our vision for Dewsbury. The Arcade building is a proud part of Dewsbury’s past and by completing the purchase of it we are making sure it is a key part of the town’s future too.
We want this to be a hub of activity is a central part of the town centre where local and independent businesses can thrive.
Such a beautiful and historically significant building cannot stay closed any longer and that’s exactly why we’ve made this decision. Residents of Dewsbury deserve better than closed buildings and empty units.”
Peter McBride, Cabinet Member for Regeneration, said:
“This is a significant step forward and a signal of intent – we are a council that delivers.
This is a key building in our vision for Dewsbury and by buying it we’re talking control of its future. The Arcade building has a great history in Dewsbury and has been at the heart of the town centre for more than 100 years.
We will now work hard on delivering the right plan to fill the Arcade with independent and local businesses and pump energy and activity into the heart of Dewsbury.”
Councillor Cathy Scott, Cabinet Member for Housing and ward member for Dewsbury East, said:
“I’m absolutely delighted that we’ve now completed the purchase of the Arcade.
It’s a building that so many local people like me have fond memories of and it has been empty and closed for far too long.
The Arcade will be a hub of activity and thriving local businesses once again in the near future and this will act as a catalyst for change in Dewsbury as we continue to deliver on our vision for the town centre.
As a resident and as a councillor I’m really excited about the future of Dewsbury Town Centre and this is the first big step towards delivering it.”
More information
Read more on The Dewsbury Blueprint online.
its not often i praise kirklees council for anything but in this case its postive step forward but one positive step dowsnt make up for all the disastrous steps backwards that dewsbury as suffered under kirklees control
Nice to see that this eye sore is going to be opened up / improved. lets hope they are shops we need in Dewsbury.
Shops that sell quality goods / food / deli / Bread./ music CDs DVDs / chocolate / fish / cheese / shoes leather / models toys craft wooded toys / sewing craft cloth rolls tweed / Taylor suits dresses hats.