Purpose

 
The report builds on the approvals and
delegations previously given by Cabinet.
 
Phase 2 (combined museum & art gallery,
public realm and basement) is the main focus of the report which
sets out the next steps in the delivery of this asset.
 
There is also an update on Phase 1 (library,
food hall, public square/public realm, and basement) outlining the
contractor’s progress on site.
 
As part of the ongoing work on the master plan
there is an overview of the remaining phases including the ongoing
review of the venue, the development of the Queen Street plot and
the outcomes of a phasing review.
 
The report outlines the previously approved
spend and updates on the drawdown of releases for next steps within
the approved Our Cultural Heart Capital plan budget.
 
In addition to the construction activity there
is an update on the budgets for the council’s operational and
support services pre and post-opening costs in preparing for the
opening and ongoing operation of the facilities within Our Cultural
Heart.
 
Background
Papers
 
1.      
March 2019 –
Cabinet Report - Assembling land and property – Huddersfield
Town Centre (Piazza) -
https://democracy.kirklees.gov.uk/documents/s29122/Item%2014%20Land%20Assembly.pdf
 
2.    
June 2019 - Blueprint
Launch Event
 
3.   
August - Oct 2019 -
Huddersfield Blueprint Place Standard Exercise – Results
at
https://howgoodisourplace.org.uk/huddersfield-town-centre/
 
4.   
February 2020 –
Cabinet Report -  Huddersfield Blueprint - Next Steps
-https://democracy.kirklees.gov.uk/documents/s34958/Item%2015%20CAB%20-%2020%20-%20071%20-%202020-02-25%20Cabinet%20Huddersfield%20Blueprint%20-%20Next%20Steps%20Final.pdf
 
5.   
September 2020 –
Cabinet Report Dewsbury and Huddersfield Town Centre Finance
-
https://democracy.kirklees.gov.uk/documents/s37506/Town%20Centre%20Finance%20Cabinet%20Report%20-%20Final%20Version.doc.pdf
 
6.    
June 2021 –
Cabinet Report - Cultural Heart, part of the
Huddersfield Blueprint – Next Stepshttps://democracy.kirklees.gov.uk/documents/s41881/Delivering%20the%20Cultural%20Heart%20Cabinet%2022.6.21%20002.pdf
 
7.   
November 2021 - Cabinet
Report, Cultural Heart, part of the Huddersfield Blueprint, Gateway
1.

https://democracy.kirklees.gov.uk/documents/s43757/PUBLIC%20CUTLURAL%20HEART%20Cabinet%20Report.%20Final%2016.11.21.pdf
 

8.    
September 2022 – Cabinet Report – Cultural Heart, part of the
Huddersfield Blueprint – Gateway 2.

https://democracy.kirklees.gov.uk/documents/s48238/PUBLIC%20Cultural%20Heart%20Cabinet%20Report%2021.9.22.pdf
 

9.   
June 2023, Cabinet Report - Cultural Heart, part of the Huddersfield
Blueprint - Gateway 3.

https://democracy.kirklees.gov.uk/documents/s52438/Cabinet%20Report%2027.6.23%20public.pdf
 

10. December 2023 - Cabinet
Report – Our Cultural Heart, part of the Huddersfield
Blueprint – Phase 1 Gateway 4.

https://democracy.kirklees.gov.uk/documents/s54749/Signed.%20OCH%20GW4%20Cabinet%20Report%2021.12.23%20public.pdf
 
11. 
July 2024 –
Decision – Our Cultural Heart Phase 1,
Structural works to former Queensgate Market.

https://democracy.kirklees.gov.uk/ieDecisionDetails.aspx?Id=12075
 
12.January
2025 – Cabinet Report – Our Cultural
Heart, part of the Huddersfield Blueprint – Phase 2
Gateway 3

https://democracy.kirklees.gov.uk/documents/s61864/Our%20Cultural%20Heart.%20Cabinet%20Report.%2021.1.25.pdf
 
 
Consultation
 
Extensive consultation has been
undertaken as part of the Blueprint including a place standard
exercise as outlined in the background papers, the design process
and public consultations for a planning and listed building consent
submissions.
 
 

Content

RESOLVED –
 

1)   
That, in regards to the Conclusion of Phase 2 Gateway 4 &
Enabling Works, authority be delegated to the Executive Director
(Place), in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Finance
& Regeneration to sign off the conclusion of Phase 2 Gateway 4
including the contractors design proposals, planning and listed
building consent matters, the RIBA 4 design, the construction
programme, the construction contract and the contract sum and if
required to maintain the optimum programme and subject to approval
of Recommendation 6 to instruct any necessary enabling works from
the Phase 2 Construction Budget during the PCSA period prior to the
conclusion of Phase 2 Gateway 4.
 

2)   
That, in regards to Construction Partner, Phase 2, JCT Construction
Contract, authority be delegated to the Executive Director (Place),
in consultation with the Service Director (Finance) and the Cabinet
Member (Finance and Regeneration) to make the decision to award the
JCT construction contract and start works on site and that if the
award would exceed the Phase 2 Construction Budget the matter be
brought back to Cabinet. 
 

3)   
That, in regards to Demolition Partner, Retail Demolition Contract,
 authority be delegated to the Executive
Director (Place), in consultation with the Service Director
(Finance), the Head of Procurement and the Cabinet Member (Finance
and Regeneration) to make all necessary preparations to secure
vacant possession of the Piazza Shopping Mall including serving
notice on the remaining tenants and occupiers and ending all
contracts, procure and then award the demolition contract either as
part of Phase 2 or as a separate contract and start works on site
and that if the award would exceed the Retail Demolition Budget the
matter will be brought back to Cabinet. 
 

4)   
That, in regards to SDP, Architect and Engineer Services and
Extension of Appointments, subject to agreement on fees and in line
with the Council’s procurement process and Contract Procedure
Rules, approval be given to continue the services being provided by
the Client construction delivery team (SDP, architect and the
engineer) to progress Phase 2 to Gateway 5 and the procurement and
completion of the retail demolition, and that it be noted that same
delivery team is providing the necessary services on Phase 1 and
the rest of the feasibility work on the master plan.
 

5)   
That, in regards to Construction Budget for Phase 1 Gateway 5,
Phase 2 Gateway 5, Retail Demolition & Master Plan Allowances,
approval be given to the further draw down of £58.228m,
thereby increasing the committed funding for the programme from
£78.957m to £137.185m. 
 

6)   
That, in regards to Reallocation of Budget to Operational Services,
approval be given, subject to no other sources of funding being
available, the reallocation of funding from the Construction Budget
to fund the West Yorkshire Archive Service (£265k) archive
cleaning pre-opening capital costs as part of Phase 1 and IT costs
(£200k) for Phase 2.   
 

7)   
That, in regards to Reallocation of Budget for Internal Staff Costs
and Property Costs, approval be given, subject to no other sources
of funding being available, the reallocation of funding from the
Construction Budget to fund the council’s internal staff
costs associated with the construction delivery (£2m) and
property costs (£750k) as set out in Section 3.2 of the
report. 
 

8)   
That, in regards to Deliver the Programme to Phase 1 Gateway 5 (end
of construction), Phase 2 Gateway 5 (end of construction) , Retail
Demolition & Develop the Master Plan, authority be delegated to
the Executive Director (Place) to work within approved budgets to
deliver the project management, design and construction of the
programme to Phase 1 Gateway 5, Phase 2 Gateway 5, retail
demolition and develop the master plan. 
 

9)   
That, in regards to, Complete the Agreement to Lease and the Lease
for the Phase 1 Food Hall Tenant, authority be delegated to the
Executive Director (Place), in consultation with the Service
Director (Finance) and the Cabinet Member (Finance and
Regeneration) to conclude the tenant selection process, negotiate
the commercial terms and complete the Agreement to Lease, and the
Lease. 
 

10)That, in regards to,
Operational Services Additional Budgets Phase 1 & Phase 2, it
be agreed that the Executive Director (Place), Deputy Chief
Executive and Executive Director (Public Health and Corporate
Resources) in consultation with the Service Director (Finance)
review and monitor the relevant service pre and post opening costs
of the various phases of the Our Cultural Heart programme, and that
the Service Director (Finance) shall ensure that the requests and
estimates are added to the Council’s Medium Term Financial
Plan and be further refined as updated information becomes
available. 
 

11)That authority be
delegated to the Service Director (Legal, Governance and
Commissioning) to negotiate, agree, enter into all agreements and
enter into and execute any documents necessary to enable the
delivery of the Our Cultural Heart project to proceed.