Barry Reynolds has been appointed as director of the £16 million pound scheme to turn Halifax Piece Hall into an Italianate town square.
Construction work is expected to begin towards the end of next year and be completed in 2015, when responsibility for the 200-year-old building will transfer from the council to an independent Trust.
Mr Reynold’s appointment follows a successful bid for £7 million from the Heritage Lottery Fund.
He will develop business and fund raising plans, events, communication and marketing strategies, a visitor and heritage centre.
Before joining Calderdale Council, Mr Reynolds managed regeneration projects for Kirklees Council and helped renovate a listed building in Dewsbury.
Earlier this year, he worked with the Princes Regeneration Trust, looking at ways of raising finance for regeneration projects. He has experience in the private sector, where he worked from 1998 to 2005, and has an understanding of commercial property, planning, compulsory purchase and related disciplines.
“I’m delighted to be working to redevelop this fantastic building. I have lived in Halifax for 10 years, so as a resident I want it to be a place where my family and friends want to spend their time.
“I’m excited about the challenges ahead. The Piece Hall Transformation Project is part of a wider series of initiatives around the Piece Hall, which are independent of each other but where future cross-benefits are clear. The Piece Hall and its ‘offer’ to visitors and occupiers should complement these other projects. I will therefore be working closely with councillors, partners and stakeholders who are external to the project but are key to its long-term success.”
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