Kirklees Together

The final designs for the regeneration of Batley town centre that will significantly enhance accessibility, calm traffic and improve safety, and create new public spaces have been revealed.

Following feedback from public engagement in January and February of this year, the designs have been finalised and agreed. They mark the culmination of more than three years of public consultation with the Batley community and local businesses.

The design team worked closely us to shape a design that will transform the public realm of Batley covering, Western, Middle and Eastern Commercial Street, Brunswick Street and Market Place. The project is now in technical design and will proceed to construction, with works due to begin Autumn 2026.

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

“We have carefully considered the views of residents and businesses, while also carrying out traffic modelling over the spring and summer helping to inform the design, to create a scheme that delivers for Batley.

“These plans will improve accessibility for all in the town centre as well as creating vibrant new public spaces for people to meet, socialise and explore the great businesses in the heart of Batley.

“We will continue to provide key updates as construction gets underway and keep the disruption to a minimum for everyone where possible.”

The £14.5 million project is being funded through £12 million from the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government, supported by approximately £2.5 million from Kirklees Council’s Local Centres funding and the West Yorkshire Combined Authority.

The designs being progressed include additional measures introduced to enhance pedestrian safety including closing Eastern side Commercial Street and enforcing a 20mph speed-limit on Commercial Street through several traffic-calming features.

The regeneration of Batley town centre is part of the Batley Blueprint and is a project with several aims: improving movement around the town centre, promoting sustainable travel, enhancing public spaces for all, developing a family-friendly atmosphere, encouraging social interaction, and creating a safe and welcoming environment.

The newly released images provide the closest look yet at what Batley town centre will become. Including:

• Market Place: Partially levelled, with new steps, utilities for stalls and events, and improved walking, cycling, and wheeling routes.
• Western Commercial Street: Expanded public space with planting, street furniture, and measures to discourage pavement parking.
• Middle Commercial Street: Prioritised for pedestrians and cyclists, with restricted vehicle access, new on-street parking, and improved pedestrian links to the car park.
• Eastern Commercial Street: Road to be pedestrianised to create a safer environment for people with improved crossing points, and two-way access to The Taproom from Wellington Street.
• The Commercial Link: A new public space, creating an inviting landscaped route from Tesco car park to Commercial Street, featuring ramps, steps, and public art celebrating Batley.
• Brunswick Street: Designed to echo The Commercial Link with soft landscaping, shallow steps, and Sustainable Urban Drainage to manage surface water.

You can view the finalised concept designs via the Batley Blueprint website.

The Batley Blueprint is part of a bigger plan happening right across Kirklees. Here in Kirklees, we’re taking a ‘blueprint’ approach to improving our towns and villages. This means we look at the whole town and create a masterplan for investment, so we can tackle challenges together and make a bigger difference. Find out more about the blueprints taking place in Kirklees.