Cabinet agrees final steps to open our new town centre food hall
We’ve taken another big step forward for Huddersfield town centre.
At this week’s Cabinet meeting (24 March), councillors approved the final steps needed to open the new food hall at Our Cultural Heart.
This decision means we can now move ahead with the specialist internal fit out and confirm how the food hall will be run, bringing it closer to welcoming businesses and customers.
Part of a bigger transformation
Our Cultural Heart is our major regeneration programme in Huddersfield town centre. Phase 1 includes:
- A new community library hub, including the West Yorkshire Archive Service.
- A vibrant food hall.
- A welcoming public square and improved public spaces.
Construction is almost complete, with the library hub and public square due to open in summer 2026.
The food hall is the next exciting part of Phase 1 to move towards opening.
What happens next?
While the main structure of the food hall is nearly finished, it now moves into its final stage.
A specialist fit out is needed to install commercial kitchens, ventilation systems, power supplies and the individual trading spaces that food businesses need. This is more complex than standard building work and needs careful planning to make sure everything is right from day one.
The food hall will open once this fit out is complete and the operator is confirmed. We will time the launch to match the strongest trading period for a new food destination, with current plans allowing for an opening up to spring 2027.
Choosing the right operating model
Cabinet has agreed that we can now finalise the selection of the food hall operator.
We are keeping three options open: leasing the space to an experienced operator, running it through a management agreement, or operating it directly ourselves. This flexibility allows us to secure the best long-term arrangement for Huddersfield and for our residents.
Funding the final stage
To complete the fit out, Cabinet has approved the release of up to £3 million from later phases of the programme.
This increases the committed Phase 1 budget from £58.370 million to £61.370 million and the overall programme commitment from £137.185 million to £140.185 million. The funding is reallocated from within the existing capital programme, meaning it remains within the overall approved budget.
Setting the food hall up for success
David Shepherd, our Executive Director for Place, said:
“Cabinet’s approval is an important milestone. The building is taking shape and we can now focus on completing the specialist fit out and confirming the operator so the food hall is ready to open strongly.
“This is about creating a high-quality destination in the heart of Huddersfield that supports local businesses, creates jobs and gives people another great reason to spend time in the town centre. We are setting it up for long-term success.”
We’ll continue to share updates as work progresses and as we get closer to welcoming you into the new food hall.
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