Powers granted to buy Halifax land to for town centre transformation plan

Calderdale Council’s Cabinet has approved amended compulsory purchase orders – if they are needed – for the major Halifax town centre A629 scheme.
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The project, which is being funded by the West Yorkshire Combined Authority and aims to improve pedestrian and cycle access into and within Halifax town centre, also includes an upgrade of roads around the town and better connectivity between the bus and rail stations.

Following the Grade II listing of the former Hughes Corporation building, designs for the area between the rail station and The Piece Hall have been redeveloped, with the building now incorporated in the plans.

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Planning consent has recently been granted for the revised scheme and earlier this month, the West Yorkshire Combined Authority approved progression to the next stage of development.

How part of Halifax town centre will look in the futureHow part of Halifax town centre will look in the future
How part of Halifax town centre will look in the future

Cabinet member for Regeneration and Strategy, Coun Jane Scullion (Lab, Luddenden Foot) said compulsory purchase orders would only be used if they were needed with land required for the scheme obtained by negotiation wherever possible.

“Negotiations of this land is going well,” she said.

Work would start at the western edge of the scheme where parcels of land were already largely under the control of the council’s highways department, she said.

Leader of Calderdale Council, Coun Tim Swift (Lab, Town) said: “I am pleased we have found a solution to the challenges created by what we refer to as the Hughes Corporation building and a way of working the scheme around that site.

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“Finding a long term use for the building makes an interesting challenge for the future,” he said.

Coun Geraldine Carter (Con, Ryburn) hopes some of the historic names associated with some of the roads and sites in the proposals would not be forgotten.

Coun Scullion thought these suggestions, possibly involving explanatory plaques, were good ones.