Kirklees Together

Huddersfield has been a market town since Anglo-Saxon times, and the beautiful market building has stood on Brook Street,  since the late 1800s, initially used as a wholesale market.

While Saturdays remain a highlight for Huddersfield Market, the historic building also has an important role to play throughout the week. The proposed improvements focus on helping the market become a more consistently popular and welcoming destination as part of the wider Huddersfield Blueprint.

What we are doing

To secure the future of the Grade II* listed building, and to protect and enhance its heritage, we want to build on the existing offer to give Huddersfield Market a new lease of life. The aim is to strengthen what already works, while creating a welcoming destination for shoppers and visitors throughout the week.

The plans focus on making sure the market can continue to thrive for generations to come, meeting modern expectations while respecting the character and qualities that make it special.

Where we started

From the beginning, meetings with traders and workshops were held at Huddersfield Town Hall and the Hudawi Centre to discuss plans for the market and the wider Huddersfield     Blueprint, making sure trader voices played a key role in shaping the proposals.

Working alongside our partners, we developed proposals by listening carefully to feedback from traders, residents and visitors, using this insight to guide the improvements.

This included a programme of community engagement carried out with Huddersfield residents by Public Perspectives Ltd on behalf of the council. The findings, published in June 2021, showed strong support for the vision, with 84% agreeing with the proposed direction for the market.

More than 1,000 people living within a five-mile radius of the market took part in the engagement. This included current market users, people who had used the market in the past and people who had never visited the market before. Across all groups, there was a shared view that investment was needed, including increased variety, choice and quality of stalls.

Both visitors and non-visitors supported the vision for a future market that enhances the traditional, value-for-money offer while improving basic facilities such as toilets. There was also support for introducing modern, fresh ideas that help create more of an ‘experience’ when visiting Huddersfield Market

Further engagement took place in November and December 2024, giving residents and visitors another opportunity to view the proposals and share their views. Plans were displayed in the market itself, and people were invited to complete an online questionnaire about the proposed scheme. A total of 108 responses were received, combining multiple-choice questions with space for comments and free-text feedback. Overall, respondents agreed that the current market needs change to improve its attractiveness to customers, and most were supportive of the proposals. Feedback also highlighted the market’s distinctive strengths, particularly its popular second-hand offer and reputation for value for money, which the plans are designed to protect and build upon.

Our vision is supported by government funding

In November 2023, we successfully secured £16.5m through the government’s Levelling Up Fund to regenerate the market building. Under the terms of the funding, the investment must be spent by March 2028 and will deliver a modern, attractive market with space for events.

Following confirmation of funding, as the design developed engagement with traders was increased, including a walkaround by the architects to each of the traders to obtain their views and comments to help shape the proposed new scheme. Architects and market teams worked closely with regular traders on the general market and casual traders on the second-hand market, sharing proposals and gathering feedback.

As a result, the initial plans were adapted. This included increasing the number of demountable stalls and refining stall designs to allow for different trading modes. The plans also build on successful existing arrangements, including layouts that accommodate the much-loved second-hand market.

New demountable stall frames will provide improved facilities for traders, with flexibility to support a range of layouts, including ‘over-the-counter’ and walk-in stalls. The new market will be larger and more flexible with stalls being 50% larger than existing ones.  Designated pitches outside the market are also included. The number of indoor stalls was increased following the public feedback to better support trading days.

The plans include an enhanced food and drink offer designed to support both daytime trading and the wider town centre economy. This will include three hot food outlets alongside a new enclosed, heated market café, providing a comfortable space for visitors to pause, socialise and enjoy refreshments. A small bar is also proposed, helping to support the evening economy and encourage increased footfall in this part of the town centre. Together, these additions will help people stay longer and engage more fully with the wider market offer, without creating a standalone food hall.

Loved for its decorative cast-iron frame, striking glass roof, and historic character, the regeneration of the Huddersfield market will include essential repairs and restoration. This includes reinstating its original colour scheme of traditional reds, pinks, and creams, honouring the building’s heritage while preparing it for the future.

Accessibility is central to the plans. Improvements include installing automatic door openers, providing accessible toilets including a Changing Places facility, and creating flatter internal spaces to make moving around easier for everyone. These changes directly reflect feedback received during earlier engagement.

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

“The regeneration of the market is all about creating a vibrant, welcoming space that works for everyone. We know how successful trading is on Saturdays and we are committed to strengthening this offer even further and adding to the town centre’s nighttime economy.

“Our plans will help the market meet the demands of a changing high street by creating an attractive and compelling offer on other days too.

“By strengthening traditional market qualities and diversifying activity across the week, we can attract more people into both the market and the wider town centre, supporting traders and helping the market to thrive long term.

The market sits perfectly in Huddersfield’s Investment Zone, and the Station to Stadium corridor and as we see growth in that area and more jobs brought into town, this market will be a focus point for passersby and encourage even more visitors during the day.   The creation of a multi-use space will allow us to host more events that complement, rather than compete with, daytime trading. This will enhance the overall experience, attract new audiences, and help the market continue its role as a lively and dynamic community hub.”

How this fits into the Huddersfield Blueprint

The regeneration of Huddersfield Market is a key part of the Huddersfield Blueprint, which aims to boost footfall and create a more vibrant, varied town centre.

It complements the completed works at Byram arcade, which restored another much-loved historic building, alongside the ongoing Our Cultural Heart development, with Phase 1 due to open in summer 2026, and the council’s plans for the George Hotel. Together, these projects will significantly improve the town centre experience, giving residents and visitors even more reasons to spend time in Huddersfield.

You can read more about the plans for Huddersfield Market on our Huddersfield Blueprint webpages.