More detailed plans revealed for new museum and art gallery as part of Our Cultural Heart
We’ve just submitted more updated plans for future phases of development for Our Cultural Heart – our big development in Huddersfield town centre!
What are the plans?
The planning application we’ve just submitted relates to a flagship new museum and art gallery, which are set to be housed in the former library building on Princess Alexandra Walk (the library by then being housed elsewhere in Our Cultural Heart).
The plans will see the four-storey former library, one of Huddersfield town centre’s notable historic buildings, become a brand new museum and art gallery which will – alongside the wider offering of Our Cultural Heart and the wider Huddersfield Blueprint – attract more visitors to Huddersfield town centre and enhance Kirklees’ offering of culture, art and learning.
Outside
The beautiful building will also be extended to the north, making it more easily accessible for everyone and creating uninterrupted connections with the surrounding outdoor spaces. Once the extension is completed, there will be two accessible entrances to the building – the main entrance is going to be via a new ramp at the historic entrance to the south, and there will be a brand new level entrance to the northern extension.
Inside
Entering on the ground floor there’ll be a reception, museum and gallery shop, plus a café which will be capable of seating 50 people – including a relaxing outdoor terrace.
The lower floor will provide spaces for events and education, as well as the necessary storage and building facilities.
The museum’s exhibitions will be housed across two floors, with the top floor reborn as a beautiful art gallery.
Throughout both the museum and art gallery will be a lot of flexible spaces available for hire, allowing for opportunities to showcase a huge mix of art and talent from across the region.
What’s happened to the library in the meantime?
The library, which was previously housed in the beautiful building described in these plans, is now located at the ‘Huddersfield Library Hub’ on the ground floor of Civic Centre 3 – on Market Street, just up the road – awaiting its permanent new home elsewhere in Our Cultural Heart.
You can visit the Huddersfield Library Hub for lots of different things including free access to IT and WiFi, help with completing forms, and even a Warm Space for people who might be elderly or vulnerable to come together. Digital and phone support is also still available to make sure everyone can still access the support they need – including support for people who aren’t digitally savvy. You can find more information about the Huddersfield Library Hub (and all our other libraries) on our website.
What happens next?
You can check out the planning application we’ve submitted for this phase of work on the council’s planning portal.
In the meantime, work is just beginning on the first phase of construction work – the prelude to these plans. Watch out for news directly from construction the site of Our Cultural Heart very soon!
