Decision Maker: Cabinet

Outcome: Recommendations Approved

Is Key Decision?: Yes

Is Callable In?: Yes

Date of Decision: September 9, 2025

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.