Restoring the town centre to former glory

Buildings in Dewsbury town centre are being restored to their former glory as part of a multi-million pound scheme.
Eric Gawronski & Joanna Dolecka, Coun Eric Firth, Michelle Illingworth, John Roebuck (contractor) and Hamid Dhorat - DK Architecture.Eric Gawronski & Joanna Dolecka, Coun Eric Firth, Michelle Illingworth, John Roebuck (contractor) and Hamid Dhorat - DK Architecture.
Eric Gawronski & Joanna Dolecka, Coun Eric Firth, Michelle Illingworth, John Roebuck (contractor) and Hamid Dhorat - DK Architecture.

Work is underway on Corporation Street after the site became the second in the town to receive a grant from the Dewsbury Townscape Heritage Initiative fund.

The improvements at buildings 13-17 on the street include replacing existing shop fronts with traditionally-styled ones and revamping the roof and windows.

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The outside of the buildings are also being refurbished as part of the project.

It comes after the first grant from the scheme was awarded to upgrade gift shop Imsons, on Foundry Street, last year.

Coun Peter McBride, Kirklees Council cabinet member for regeneration, said: “The work in the heritage area will not only bring these beautiful old buildings back to their former glory but will also make Dewsbury Town Centre as a whole more attractive to new businesses.

“New business leads to a better local economy and ensures that Dewsbury is a great place to live, work and visit”

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The £3.7m scheme is a five-year project, funded by £2m from the Heritage Lottery Fund and £1.7m from Kirklees Council.

Other town centre building which will be revamped include Northgate House and the Northgate Block - a group of properties between Queensway Arcade, Northgate and Foundry Street.

On Corporation Street, number 17 will continue to trade as Simply Mobile while 13-15 is to reopen as a new cafe called Sweet and Salted.

The work is being carried out by builders Roebuck and Holmes and local Architect’s DK Architecture.

It is due to be completed by September.

New art boards have also been installed at the former Principal’s pub on Northgate, to brighten its appearance from the outside.