Key details
We're renewing and reshaping Halifax town centre in a way that drives growth, improves experience, and ensures future sustainability.
Our plan for Halifax town centre will improve access for visitors, create more welcoming spaces, and make sure Halifax remains a great place for people to connect with each other.
This project is funded by the UK Government.
Current status
On this page
Plans
Our strategy focusses on the idea of ‘Connecting Halifax’. We're making changes to better connect parts of the town centre and create spaces for people to spend time and enjoy.
We are working with business and third sector groups to improve Halifax for residents and visitors. This project complements Halifax’s existing retail and cultural assets to diversify the town centre offer and bring more people within walking distance of town centre attractions.
The Halifax Future High Streets programme includes a number of connected projects:
Halifax Borough Market
We're updating the iconic Grade II* listed Victorian market, creating a warmer and more welcoming place for people to shop, eat, drink and spend time.
We're making improvements outside and inside the market. Find out more about this project: Halifax Borough Market - Halifax Future High Streets .
Victoria Theatre
Making a visit to this iconic theatre a more attractive choice.
We've enhanced this iconic Grade II listed theatre so that more people can enjoy all that this venue has to offer. We’ve improved accessibility, making it easier to get into the theatre, and we've created a café bar; further enhancing the visitor experience .
Find out more about this project: Victoria Theatre - Halifax Future High Streets.
George Square
We're making George Square and George Street more welcoming, safer and greener spaces for all to enjoy. We're creating a new public square destination where people can meet, socialise, and relax.
Find out more about this project: George Square - Halifax Future High Streets.
Art and About Trail
We’re creating a trail that features a mix of brand-new art installations and existing landmarks in Halifax town centre.
Find out more about this project: Art and About Trail - Halifax Future High Streets.
Northgate House
A vibrant new focal point for Halifax.
We’ve transformed the former central library into a brand new sixth form academy and redeveloped old council buildings into over 50,000 square feet of high-quality office and retail space. All located around a new public square.
Find out more about this project: Halifax Northgate.
Westgate Phase 2
We are supporting local developer O&C Management to refurbish buildings and land at Horton Street as part of the expansion of Westgate Arcade. Plans include 12 new units for use as retail, leisure and office spaces, enhancing the arcade's shopping and dining offer.
Find out more about this development: Westgate Arcade.
Palatine Chambers
We've supported a local housing charity to upgrade accommodation at Palatine Chambers, creating good quality homes in the town centre.
Benefits
Economic growth
We’re creating opportunities for Halifax’s high street to grow and thrive. These changes support current and future businesses.
Visitor economy
We’re enhancing the town centre and helping to increase the number of visitors.
Art, heritage and culture
We’re investing in our heritage buildings, preserving them so that they can continue to be enjoyed for many years to come. We’re creating new and better venues, and creating opportunities for people to learn about and celebrate Halifax’s unique history and culture.
Community
We’re creating spaces where people can meet, spend time and enjoy.
Sustainability
We're delivering regeneration projects that will complement future developments in the town centre. We're making changes to create warmer, more energy efficient buildings.
Connectivity
We're connecting assets with new spaces, linking key destinations and encouraging people to explore.
Progress
27 October 2025
New bar opens at the Victoria Theatre in Halifax.
27 August 2025
Halifax Bus Station to be home to the first Art and About trail installation.
20 August 2025
Completion of the roof marks high point in the market's transformation making the market warmer, watertight, more energy efficient and allowing more natural light into the building.
9 July 2025
Four new trees have been planted in the bespoke cast iron planters around the central clock. The area has been transformed with improvements including new seating, new paving, bespoke joinery and refurbishment of the iconic clock.
16 May 2025
Lower carbon and cost savings for Victoria Theatre.
Calderdale Council has secured funding of £5.1 million from the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme to replace fossil fuel gas heating systems in four Council-owned buildings, with low-carbon heat pumps.
1 May 2025
Work on Albany Arcade complete.
December 2024
Construction work is now complete and the first new space to fully open is the box office, which has relocated to Commercial Street. For the latest visitor information, see The Victoria Theatre website.
The finishing touches are being carried out to the new café bar and the rest of the new facilities to get them ready for use. This includes final decoration works; the installation of new equipment, including a barista coffee machine for the café/bar; and digital improvements, including Wi-Fi.
The full opening of the rest of the new facilities, including the lifts, is planned for early 2025.
18 December 2024
New traders at Halifax Borough Market have moved into the sample stalls which include new storage and display features.
The transformation of The Albany Arcade is almost complete, with new sound and lighting equipment to be installed early in the new year, allowing it to be used as an event space with pop-up stalls outside of normal market trading hours. This area has already successfully hosted events, including part of the Halifax Comedy Festival.
Along Albion Street, work has taken place to renovate the shop fronts of two vacant units. The remaining shops will be refreshed in the new year, including new signs and retractable awnings.
Work on the final section of the roof is progressing well and the roof works are due to be finished in spring 2025, making the market warmer, watertight and allowing more natural light into the building.
In the centre of the market, power has been restored to the iconic clock and new paving has been installed in this area. Improvements to follow in the new year include: seating, bespoke planters and display boards showcasing the market’s unique history.
As part of the wayfinding improvements, a contractor has been appointed to install new signage, including digital totems to promote the traders and events on offer.
5 November 2024
Improvements are continuing with new railings and gates now installed in The Albany Arcade as part of work to create a new event space.
In the centre of the market, the clock's power supply connections have been upgraded and new paving is being laid.
In the market arcade, double glazed roof panels have been fitted and this area has also been redecorated to match the market's new colour scheme.
Next to the market arcade entrance, both new sample stalls will soon have tenants in place to try out the updated designs and provide feedback. The stalls include improved storage elements with one stall equipped for selling hot food.
24 October 2024
Demolition of the public toilets at George Square will start on Monday 28 October 2024. This work will prepare the area ready for construction which is expected to begin in summer 2025.
October 2024
Improved access takes centre stage as work progresses at The Victoria Theatre. All structural changes are complete and three new lifts have been installed including:
- a passenger lift between the new box office and circle level;
- a stairlift at circle level providing access to the Circle Bar;
- and a platform lift for access between the foyer and the stalls.
Two new accessible toilets have been fitted, one at circle level and one in the new café bar area. These changes will make it easier for people with accessibility requirements to visit the theatre.
Work to create the new café bar and the box office is underway with plumbing, heating and electrics being installed. Construction is expected to be complete by the end of the year. The theatre will then begin preparations for opening the new spaces and facilities.
8 August 2024
Market improvements are taking shape with the installation of the new canopy at the Albion Street entrance now complete. The steel and glass canopy provides a welcoming and striking new look along this side of the market.
Market trader facilities have been upgraded, this includes the installation of four new unisex toilets.
In the Albany Arcade, work is underway to transform this area into a new event space. Acoustic panels have been installed to improve the sound quality, with audio and visual equipment to follow at a later date. The concrete section of the stage area has been removed and work is progressing on the foundations for the new bespoke gates.
Work to replace the roof is progressing, new double glazed panels have been installed in the north east section and the redecoration of this area is also complete. Scaffolding is now being moved to the final section in the south east corner.
In the centre of the market, the iconic clock has been redecorated to complement the wider redecoration of the market. The clock hands have been refurbished and the lanterns have been re-glazed, replacing the old Perspex panes. The clock remains out of action whilst work continues here.
Four bespoke cast iron planters are in production, these will hold semi-tropical trees and will be placed around the clock. The new planters are being created locally by Hargreaves Foundry.
One of the new bespoke cast iron planters that will be decorated and placed around the clock in Halifax Borough Market.
August 2024
To mitigate impact in the town centre, we’re delivering this George Square parts of this project as part of the A629 Phase 2 Halifax town centre project programme.
2 July 2024
We're completing the installation of the new canopy at the Albion Street entrance. Whilst we carry out this work the Albion Street entrance will be temporarily closed from:
- Tuesday 2 July until Friday 5 July;
- and Monday 8 July until Friday 12 July.
Halifax Borough Market remains open as normal along with all other entrances.
March 2024
We've appointed local artist Talya Baldwin to create the illustrations for the Art and About Trail map.
We're working in partnership with Everybody Arts to develop public art commissions for the trail. As part of this project, they are working with the local community to design a new moquette fabric to be displayed at Halifax Bus Station. For more information including how you can get involved, visit the Everybody Arts website.
Listed building consent has been approved to install new signs at the market. These will help people find their way around and promote the traders and events on offer. Listed building consent has also been received to transform The Albany Arcade into a new event space.
We're installing a new canopy at the Albion Street entrance, and we're also repairing the paving in this area. This means that the Albion Street entrance will be temporarily closed from 8 April to 30 April. Halifax Borough Market will remain open as normal.
Work is progressing to enhance The Victoria Theatre with a key milestone reached. Structural work linking the foyer with the old box office and vacant retail unit to create a new café bar is complete.
New openings have been created with supporting lintels installed.
January 2024
The public toilets in The Albany Arcade have been upgraded and are now open for use.
December 2023
Morris and Spottiswood have been appointed to carry out the work to enhance Victoria Theatre. Work on site has now started and will initially focus on creating the new box office (formerly the Ivor Burns shoe shop) on Commercial Street.
Victoria Theatre will be open as normal throughout the renovations.
It's been a year of great progress towards the transformation of Halifax’s Victorian market.
Listed building consent has been received for the improvements around the clock and plans to install new automatic sliding doors at the market arcade entrance which will replace four of the heavy, free swinging doors. Listed building consent has been submitted to install new signs at the market as part of plans to help people find their way around and promote the traders and events on offer.
Along Albion Street, the outdoor canopy has been removed following planning permission and listed building consent. This is to make way for new signs, retractable awnings and a steel and glass canopy above the entrance.
Next to the market arcade entrance, the sample stall foundations and steel frames have been installed. Once completed, traders will be able to test out the new design and provide feedback.
In The Albany Arcade, work is nearing completion to upgrade the public toilets and listed building consent has been submitted to transform the area into a new event space.
Work to replace the roof continues and is progressing well, with some sections already complete and being put to the test by the winter weather. This image of the roof shows the difference between the new and old sections, with the new double glazed panels covered in snow next to the old panels where the snow has melted due to heat loss. Once complete the new roof will make the market warmer, watertight, more energy efficient, and allow more natural light into the building.
Plans are progressing to transform George Square and George Street, with demolition notices in place for the public toilets at George Square.
August 2023
Work to transform the historic Halifax Borough Market continues.
Planning permission and listed building consent have been received for the Albion Street improvements.
Listed building consent applications have been submitted as part of plans to upgrade the historic doors at the market arcade entrance and improvements to the area around the clock tower.
Roof renovations are progressing well. The dome section above the central clock is now complete and includes clear glass panels and newly decorated steel structures.
June 2023
Wifi installation is complete at Borough Market. Traders and visitors to the market now have access to free, high speed internet.
Following planning approval, the tender process has begun to appoint a contractor for the Victoria Theatre project.
May 2023
Planning application submitted for the changes along Albion Street and the work around the central clock.
March 2023
Tenders for the public and trader toilet refurbishments have been returned and evaluated. The contract has been awarded to IAG Developments Ltd.
August 2022
Re-roofing starts at Halifax Borough Market this month. The milestone marks the start of the first major project funded by the Future High Street Fund in Halifax.
The contract for the work has been awarded to local company IAG Developments Ltd. The Queensbury based contractor is familiar with the market. They completed similar roofing works in the Albany Arcade section of the market, and the re-roofing and external works to the Market Street elevation.
The £2.3m contract will take around 18 months to complete. The work starts 22 August 2022 and will be undertaken in 5 phases to minimise disruption.
We’ve ensured that erection of scaffolding at the market is planned to take place outside of normal trading hours to minimise disruption. Surplus fittings will be removed prior to the start of trading each morning and lighting will be provided to make up for the light blocked out by scaffolding.
The works will address a number of issues highlighted by tenants.
30 August 2022
Halifax Borough Market works kickstart high street transformation.
Improvement works have begun at Halifax Borough Market this week, marking the start of the first major project funded by the Future High Streets Fund in Halifax.
Revitalising the stunning Victorian market hall is a key part of the £11.7 million Future High Streets work planned across Halifax town centre.
August 2022
Re-roofing starts at Halifax Borough Market this month. The milestone marks the start of the first major project funded by the Future High Street Fund in Halifax.
The contract for the work has been awarded to local company IAG Developments Ltd. The Queensbury based contractor is familiar with the market. They completed similar roofing works in the Albany Arcade section of the market, and the re-roofing and external works to the Market Street elevation.
The £2.3m contract will take around 18 months to complete. The work starts 22 August 2022 and will be undertaken in 5 phases to minimise disruption.
We’ve ensured that erection of scaffolding at the market is planned to take place outside of normal trading hours to minimise disruption. Surplus fittings will be removed prior to the start of trading each morning and lighting will be provided to make up for the light blocked out by scaffolding.
The works will address a number of issues highlighted by tenants:
| Work item | Benefits |
|---|---|
| Re-roofing slated sections and insulation | Thermal improvements
|
| Replace glazing with thin section clear double-glazing | Thermal improvements Fix leaks More natural light Improved aesthetics |
| Cleaning and lining, or replacement of gutters | Fix leaks |
| Blocking up some roof vents and new automatic vents | Thermal improvements Fix leaks Better ventilation control |
| Installation of destratification fans to move warm air down to shop floor level | Thermal improvements More stable environmental conditions |
| Cleaning of high-level structure | Improved aesthetics Cleaner environment |
| Decoration | Improved aesthetics Clear identity |
| Removal of redundant services | Improved aesthetics Cleaner environment |
January 2022
We have appointed a consultancy to complete the work. They have visited locations around Halifax to understand the key elements of the Future High Streets project.
The consultants are currently reviewing the works programme. Their role at this stage is to make sure we can deliver a high quality build that will complement other developments in the town centre.
May 2021
Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government confirm funding for this project, and the Elland Future High Streets Fund project.
Read the announcement: More high streets set for funding boost as reopening accelerates
Funding
Approximate scheme value: £11.76M.
This project was made possible through funding from:
