By Harpreet Uppal, MP for Huddersfield
I was absolutely delighted to see the Cultural Heart open its doors to the public this September.
The official opening was marked with a weekend of fun and celebrations; with family events, live music, local food and drink, and the opportunity for residents to explore every part of the amazing library and public spaces.
I first saw the detailed plans for the Cultural Heart back in 2019 when, as a Kirklees councillor, I chaired the Economy and Neighbourhoods Scrutiny Panel.
I said at the time these were ambitious plans for our town centre which could make a huge difference in how our area was viewed.
I know so many of you have been excited about this for a long time, me included. Although, there was also some scepticism, could our town pull this off?
Well, the other weekend as I and many people filed into Queensgate Square, families enjoyed the public space and live music, the queues stretched around the corner for new library cards, and it was clear footfall around the town centre was up. I think we can say expectations were more than exceeded.
We see this site open because previous Labour administrations and Kirklees Council officers had the courage to back Huddersfield and the ambition to invest in its future.
We understood that towns like ours have enormous potential and deserve the same confidence, investment and opportunity as anywhere else.
This vision was rooted in a deep sense of civic pride, a certain Yorkshire stubbornness and a belief that Huddersfield should never settle for less.
Now that it is open, I hope that all who visit it can understand why we remained so confident in this vision for Huddersfield.
The area has been transformed into a vibrant community hub at the heart of our town, drawing people in from across the area.
Where previously our library may not have felt accessible and practical for all, the new modern space spans over two floors with plenty of laptop and working spaces, a beautiful children’s library, meeting rooms, workshop spaces and a brand-new state-of-the-art archives service.
To quote one resident I overheard whilst entering the building last week: ‘I didn’t expect to see something this amazing in Huddersfield.’
Another told me that she hasn’t felt the need to come into the town centre for several years, but this opening motivated her to bring her whole family to take a look.
The Cultural Heart is a space truly transformed, and there is much more yet to come.
The next stages of this project include a new food hall and the old library extended (not demolished, do not worry!) and renovated to become a museum and art gallery, displaying some of the most inspiring of our local talent and history.
This will back on to a new urban park, joining up the two spaces and providing some much-needed nature to our town centre.
This ongoing project, alongside continued investment in other sites including Huddersfield Bus Station, the TransPennine Route Upgrade, the George Hotel, the University of Huddersfield’s National Health Innovation Campus and the Station to Stadium Enterprise Corridor are beginning to show the long-term ambition that has driven the regeneration of Huddersfield.
Together they will help transform our town, improve connectivity and create a stronger future for us all.
I know many of you have had to put up with a lot of disruption over recent months and years, but I hope that you can also begin to see what these projects mean for our town.
Most importantly it shows why investing in towns like ours is so important; why economic development and investment in skills matters, anchored by local and national government and local business, supported by our universities and education providers and boosted by private investment.
Our Prime Minister Andy Burnham shares my ambition for towns like Huddersfield and how important it is that we are part of the national conversation.
He understands the value of putting more power into the hands of local people, as it is local people who know best what their area so desperately needs.
Our Cultural Heart speaks clearly to this ethos. By putting trust in local decision-makers and the communities we serve we have unlocked ambition and investment not seen in Huddersfield for nearly as long as I can remember.
A new story is being written about Huddersfield, and I am excited for our future. I will continue to champion investment in our town in Parliament, in Yorkshire and beyond. I hope you will join me!
PS… I would really encourage all of you who have not yet had the opportunity, to make time to go and explore Huddersfield Library Hub and Queensgate Square. They truly are amazing spaces.
Images from opening weekend at Queensgate Square by: Huddersfield Hub photographer SEAN DOYLE
