Pioneer House to lead Dewsbury recovery as Kirklees council pumps £40m to help economy

Senior figures on Kirklees Council have agreed a local economic recovery plan that will see £40m pumped into towns across the borough.
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The job creation fund has been conceived in reaction to the ongoing Covid-19 crisis as part of the regeneration of Huddersfield and Dewsbury.

It will allow some elements of the council’s “blueprints” to be accelerated whilst others will soon be finished.

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In Dewsbury the flagship Pioneer House development will soon be open.

How Pioneer House in Dewsbury will lookHow Pioneer House in Dewsbury will look
How Pioneer House in Dewsbury will look

In outlining the scheme to the council’s decision-making Cabinet Coun Peter McBride said: “In Huddersfield five major schemes are planned in the next 12 months that will deliver £50m of investment.

“In Dewsbury Pioneer House will be opened. It’s the anchor point of Kirklees College’s Dewsbury operations and development of the arcade leading to the market will commence very soon.

“Then we have further schemes for the development of the bus station and the market itself, which is another £8m scheme.”

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He added: “The new package will target our investment and inward investment in our main towns.

“We are mindful of the need to spread programmes to other townships.

“In the next year in Holmfirth, Cleckheaton and Batley we will spread these initiatives to these other centres in the borough – eventually literally every area within the borough.”

The council unveiled its £200m Dewsbury Blueprint on February 5 at an exclusive launch event held in Dewsbury Town Hall.

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The 10-year investment plan aims to revive town centre sites including the Kingsway Arcade and Empire House next to the town hall.

The council also wants to revitalise Dewsbury Market and will demolish the Co-op building to make way for a pocket park.

Members of Cabinet voted unanimously (July 13) to approve the creation of the economic recovery plan.