Green light to take Brighouse 'to the next level' with £19.1m plans

The Government money will be used to make the town even more attractive to visitors, said Cabinet member for Regeneration and Strategy, Coun Jane Scullion (Lab, Luddenden Foot).

“This is excellent news and thank you to the Government for the Towns Fund.

“We’re sorry we had to compete against other towns but we are very pleased to be able to be awarded some money for Brighouse ” she said.

She said five components made up proposals developed with the board, including improving the canalside, making the town more welcoming to tourists, major development plans for Brighouse Market, which was well overdue for refurbishment, support for retail and leisure, and building on Brighouse’s position as a major industrial town, including linking up with Calderdale College and business to develop apprenticeships and create jobs particularly for young people.

“Brighouse is already thriving it has to be said but this is about it coming up even more,” said Coun Scullion.

Ward councillor Coun Howard Blagbrough (Con, Brighouse) said the award was “absolutely amazing.”

“It’s going to be an extremely tight deadline but I think it is the best opportunity we have in Brighouse to encourage even more people into the town centre,” he said.

He said the jury was out when “parklets” were created in the town recently until benches were placed there but speaking to local people since they were more enthusiastic, indicating possibilities for the future. Coun Blagbrough urged the council to keep listening to people.

Coun Scullion said the parklets had been controversial but were temporary structures and would be kept under review.

Cabinet also agreed to delegate the development of crucial detailed business cases to senior council officers in conjunction with Coun Scullion.

The Heads of Terms offer sums of money for projects the Government is content to support and the Board may take forward projects which may include an offer limited to £6.13 million towards transforming key town centre public spaces at Canalside and Thornton Square, an offer limited to £5.20 million for public realm improvements, and an £8.62 million funding limit offer for enhancing Brighouse retail and leisure.

Two other elements will need some match funding.

An Industry 4.0 and Skills Hub project which has a funding offer limit of £2.58 million and would require £2.46 million match funding – this would see development of 24 new market stalls and supporting infrastructure, a market building, 270 square metres of event space, 18 new homes, start and scale-up units and a new apprenticeship hub.

There is also a funding offer limit of £2.39 million, which would require £570,000 match funding, for more Brighouse Market revitalisation and apprenticeship learning.

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