Plans to renovate the historic Huddersfield Open Market in West Yorkshire have been approved by the Kirklees Council District-wide Planning Committee. The decision, made on Thursday 16 April 2026, greenlights a £16.5 million project aimed at restoring the 1887 Grade II* listed building.
The council intends to modernise the site, which features a decorative cast-iron frame and glass roof, to better suit changing high street patterns. David Shepherd, the council’s Executive Director for Place, stated that the project is intended to create a welcoming space for traders, shoppers, and visitors. The funding for the work is provided by the government’s Levelling Up Fund and must be spent by 31 March 2028.
The construction process will require the market hall to close for at least 18 months. During this time, traders will relocate to a temporary site positioned between the current market on Brook Street and the nearby Tesco car park. Once the renovations are complete, the market will feature 87 indoor pitches, including 12 larger stalls and 75 demountable spaces for market days. This represents a 31 per cent reduction from the current 126 stalls.
The approval followed a divided vote, with five councillors supporting the plans and three voting against due to concerns regarding consultation processes and the reduction in trading capacity. The plans have faced significant opposition from traders, with around 100 signing a letter expressing fears that the changes pose a substantial risk to the market’s future. Andrew Wilson from the Same Skies Think Tank, who coordinated the opposition campaign, argued that the council should focus on building upon the market’s existing strengths rather than pursuing these specific alterations.
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