Huddersfield Civic Society

To coincide with the Yorkshire Civic Societies Week, the Huddersfield Civic Society has organised a series of events to enable the public to see the work we do, and also to comment on the various aspects of, and developments in the town. The full schedule is below.

- HCS 2008 Essay Competition

We all know this is a very volatile time for the town with many projects in the offering. We would like all members of the Civic Society to put forward their views about how they see the future of the town. It would be both interesting and helpful if you could write about 600 words on 'My vision for the town centre of the future'. This allows for as much scope as you like, ranging from the practical to the fanciful. If we get a response, some of the pieces will feature in the examiner for a wider public, as well as distributed amongst ourselves. Please send you article to Professor Cullingford.

9/4/08 - Supplementary Planning Document 2 (SPD2) - Affordable Housing - Draft document consultation and Sustainability Appraisal

The council has produced a Draft Supplementary Planning Document (SDP) on affordable housing. This sets out detailed guidance on the council's requirements for the provision of affordable housing in relation to market housing developments, and is intended to increase the supply of affordable housing over the coming years. Once the SPD has been adopted, planning applications for residential development will need to comply with the requirements of the SPD, otherwise they may be refused. The consultation draft of this document can be accessed above. Comments must be received between 7th April and 16th May 2008.

Members are encouraged to look at it and send in their views.

27/11/07 - Winter 2007 Newsletter

The Winter Newsletter is now available to download here.

This editions gives a review of some of the issues and activities of the society over the last 12 months. Topics include:

Their are also other interesting articles by members on A Novice’s Introduction to the Planning System, and The Vertical and Horizontal.

The newsletter is in PDF format. You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view the newsletter. You can download the lasted version of Adobe Acrobat Reader for free here if it's not already installed on your computer.

07/11/07 - Piazza's Refurbishment

Richard Ward, Civic Society President, unveiled a plaque to record the Piazza's recent (ongoing) refurbishment - specifically the glazing of The Shambles.

27/07/07 - Huddersfield in Bloom and Tidy Trader 2007 Winners

Our Society President, Richard Ward, recently presented the Huddersfield Civic Society Rosebowl trophy to Huddersfield in Bloom winners The Piazza via John Beardall. The Tidy Trader winners were Term Time Wear. The Society are co-sponsors with Huddersfield Town Centre Association and the prizegiving was held at The George Hotel.

06/02/07 - Winter 2006 Newsletter

The Winter Newsletter is now available to download here.
The newsletter is in PDF format. You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view the newsletter. You can download Adobe Acrobat Reader for free here if it's not already installed on your computer.

26/07/06 - Summer 2006 Newsletter

The Summer Newsletter is now available to download here.
The newsletter is in PDF format. You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view the newsletter. You can download Adobe Acrobat Reader for free here if it's not already installed on your computer.

16/06/06 - Architectural walks around Huddersfield

David Wyles's book of architectural walks around Huddersfield is now available, price Ł3.95, at Huddersfield Tourist Information Centre and the Local History Library and will soon be in other outlets.

02/04/06 - 2006 Civic Trust Awards:

Huddersfield Technical College of Caring
The Civic Trust Architectural Awards are given to projects that make an outstanding contribution to the quality and appearance of the environment.

Entered by the Huddersfield Civic Society, this deliberately modest new college building is delightful. It replaces a disparate collection of lightweight and temporary buildings which had become established on the college's Taylor Hill Campus. Classrooms and administration areas are located at the front, while at the rear laboratories, enclosures and housing for animals and birds (the college includes a fully functioning farm) serve as teaching tools for students.

Ecological and sustainable issues were carefully considered in the scheme, particularly as ecology is part of the curriculum here. Grey water and a reed bed have been installed for sewage treatment, while energy use and carbon emissions have been minimised. The galvanised steel frame is clad in cedar, which will weather well, and help the building blend into its leafy surroundings.

Click here for further information.

10/01/06 - Winter 2005 Newsletter

23/09/05 - Huddersfield in Bloom and Tidy Trader Winners

Friday 23 September 2005 saw the annual presentation of prizes for the Huddersfield in Bloom and Tidy Trader competitions by our President. This picture shows him with John Beardall and Jag Khela of The Piazza Shopping Centre, who won the Huddersfield Civic Society rosebowl for the second year running in the Huddersfield in Bloom competition, and Joanne Stead from Beaverbrooks, the winner of the Huddersfield Civic Society trophy in the Tidy Trader competition.

The Awards ceremony was held at The Huddersfield Hotel and was followed by a buffet lunch.

Mr Ward thanked all the participants for their part in making the town so attractive again this year and helping it to lift Second Prize in the regional Yorkshire in Bloom competition. He also thanked Julia Lilof of Town Centre Management (pictured), for her sterling work in organising the competitions, and the Street Wardens who keep score for the Tidy Trader competition.

21/07/05 - Summer 2005 Newsletter

The Summer Newsletter is now available to download here.
The newsletter is now in PDF format. You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view the newsletter. You can download Adobe Acrobat Reader for free here if it's not already installed on your computer.

11/07/05 - Social News

I really should not be the one to say so but the balloon debate at the May meeting proved to be a most entertaining and informative event. Five prominent speakers each spoke persuasively for seven minutes to champion their chosen proposal for the town centre. Lawrence Antill, who had traveled from his base in Wiltshire for the event, argued for more shopping in order to finance amenity developments, John Moore tried to persuade us that a bridge over the ring road to link the town with the University was essential, we inclined to agree with Suzanne North that a new art gallery and cultural centre was most desirable, Tess Butler's traffic free town centre certainly had its attractions whilst Toby Hyam's Destination Market sounded fun. The audience asked penetrating questions of the speakers but which project did we chose? John Lockwood

17/02/05 - 2005 Events

The events for 2005 are now available to view on the website on the Events Page.

17/01/05 - Listing Sub-Committee

We have just established a new Listing Sub-Committee which will be responsible for identifying buildings thought suitable for listing and areas suitable for Conservation Area status. Membership is open to anyone with a suggestion and the willingness to prepare a case to put to the Committee. Anyone interested should contact the Co-ordinator, Richard Huddleston (847562).

11/12/04 - Winter 2004 Newsletter

The Winter Newsletter is now available to download here.
The newsletter is now in PDF format. You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view the newsletter. You can download Adobe Acrobat Reader for free here if it's not already installed on your computer.

12/10/04 - Huddersfield in Bloom Winners

Our Society President Richard Ward recently presented the Huddersfield Civic Society trophy to Huddersfield in Bloom winners The Piazza via Jagvinder Singh Khela. The Tidy Trader winners, similar to 2004, were Shaw & Hall via Vicky Devlin. The Society are co-sponsors with Huddersfield Town Centre Association and the prizegiving was at The Paparazzi Suite at The Rock Cafe last week. There was a great increase in participants in Tidy Trader this year. Also mentioned was Huddersfield's success in the Yorkshire in Bloom and Keep Britain Tidy competitions.

02/07/04 - Priestroyd Mill

Photos from the Society visit to Priestroyd Mill are now available online. Please click here.

12/02/04 - December 2003 Newsletter

The December Newsletter is now available to download here.

21/08/03 - Press Release

An online version of the "Huddersfield Civic Society's View of Kirklees MC's Feasibility Proposals" press release is available here.

16/6/08 - Yorkshire Civic Societies Week 21st - 29th June 2008