Kirklees Together

As part of the Our Cultural Heart regeneration scheme, Kirklees branch of the West Yorkshire Archive Service (WYAS) will be moving into Huddersfield’s new flagship library hub.

The purpose-built facility will be part of the new library building, located next to the historic Queensgate Market, and will open to the public in summer 2026.

A New Home for 800 Years of Local History

The move marks a major step forward in protecting and sharing Kirklees’ rich history. More than 20,000 boxes of historic records, some dating back to the 1100s, will be relocated from their current home on Victoria Lane into a new, environmentally controlled space.

To make the move possible, the current WYAS Kirklees office will close at the end of July 2025. Specialist archive staff will then begin the careful work of packaging, labelling and preparing the collection for relocation.

Part of Huddersfield’s Transformation

The new archive will be a key feature of the Phase One redevelopment of the Our Cultural Heart masterplan, which, as well as the library hub, also includes a new food hall and public square.

While the food hall will be located in the refurbished Queensgate Market building, the new library hub will be housed in a striking modern extension designed with flexibility and community in mind.

The space will feature:

• Quiet areas and breakout spaces
• Group meeting rooms
• A children’s library
• Maker-space and digital access points
• A welcoming ‘history hub’ for archive research and exhibitions

A Place to Discover, Learn and Connect

Councillor Graham Turner, Cabinet Member for Finance and Regeneration, said:

“The relocation of the archive is a brilliant way to bring Kirklees’ past into the future. Our Cultural Heart will be a vibrant destination – not just for food and culture, but for learning and discovery too.

“This new library is about much more than books. It’s about giving families, students, researchers and community groups spaces to meet, work, explore and enjoy. And by placing the archives here too, we’re creating a hub that will attract people into Huddersfield town centre and support our local economy.”

Councillor Ahmed Munir, who sits on the West Yorkshire Joint Services Committee, added:

“We’re so excited to be moving Kirklees’ archive into this fantastic new facility. These collections hold over 800 years of stories about the people and places of Kirklees, and this move will help us protect and share those stories more widely than ever before.

“Our team is already hard at work preparing for the move, and we can’t wait to welcome the public to the new archive hub next year.”

What’s Next?

Phase One of Our Cultural Heart is due for practical completion in spring 2026, with the food hall and library hub opening in summer 2026.

Planning approval has also been granted for Phase Two, which will see the former library and art gallery on Princess Alexandra Walk transformed into a new museum and gallery for the region.