OUR AIMS

To stimulate interest in caring for the town and its buildings.

To encourage improvements in its environment and amenities.

To promote the town as an attractive place to live and work.
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​To preserve and celebrate our built heritage.

To read more about our history and what we do please scroll to the bottom of this home page

We hope you will enjoy exploring our site and we look forward to welcoming you to membership.  
We regret that meetings may be subject to change or cancellation because of Covid-19. 
Any changes ​will be posted on the Events page

EVENTS

In normal times, we run monthly talks, meetings and visits

NEWS

The latest on civic issues affecting you and your community

PLANNING

Our role in scrutinising contentious planning applications

GALLERY

Pictures old and new of Huddersfield people and places

JOIN US

We are pleased to welcome new members to the society

TWITTER

News and comments about the town on our Twitter feed

DISCOVER HUDDERSFIELD

Discover Huddersfield is a community-led project involving a number of local organisations including Huddersfield Civic Society. It offers ways to experience the town, through guided walks, talks and trails. 
​It also aims to highlight the gems of history, beauty and heritage in the town, as Huddersfield Civic Society chairman, David Wyles, explains in this video

CIVIC LINKS

Huddersfield Civic Society is affiliated to the Yorkshire and Humberside Association of Civic Societies. Civic Voice promotes civic pride as the national charity for the civic movement in England. It is an excellent source of news.

ARCHAEOLOGY

Huddersfield and District Archaeology Society studies, explores and records the archeology of the area, covering prehistory, the Roman and medieval periods and the recent past.

LOCAL HISTORY

Huddersfield Local History Society
​arranges monthly talks from September to May; a summer outing; an autumn seminar; an annual journal and a series of publications. 
                                                              
​                                                                  HUDDERSFIELD CIVIC SOCIETY

Our History
 
Huddersfield Civic Society was created in 1964 with the aim of encouraging high standards of architecture and town planning. HCS strives to stimulate public interest and pride in caring for the town, its buildings and culture, the improvement of its environment, infrastructure and amenities and the promotion of a vibrant and attractive place to live and work.
 
HCS hopes to engender civic pride in our town and influence decisions that have a bearing on the town’s well-being through our work in responding to planning applications, consultation with Kirklees Council, liaison with other organisations, as a forum for sharing ideas and an appreciation of Huddersfield’s assets through events, promotion and publicity.
 
We are part of a national movement that focuses on bringing together people who take pride and take specific actions to enhance and improve the places they live in.
We welcome new members, both as individuals and corporate organisations who subscribe to this aim.
                                              
SOME RECENT HCS INITIATIVES

Engagement with Kirklees Council (KC) regarding initiatives, including street and shopfront improvements, the High Street/Heritage Action Zone (HS/HAZ) and other Town Centre Blueprint proposals.

Monitoring planning applications to prevent inappropriate developments, help ensure high standards of design, protection of natural features and listed structures and use of appropriate materials.

Liaison with Kirklees Council Conservation and Design team over issues and concerns relating to vacant listed buildings and Conservation Area developments and improvements.

Participation in the HS/HAZ Cultural Programme, securing funding from Historic England for a 3-year programme of cultural activities within the town.

Consultation with Kirklees Council regarding major residential development proposals, design and environmental standards.

Developing trails and virtual and guided walks in association with the Discover Huddersfield partnership.
Involvement in the organisation of Kirklees-wide events to celebrate the national Heritage Open Days festival.

Organising the annual HCS Design Awards. Inaugurated in 2012, the awards celebrate the very best architecture, design and community initiatives.

Partnership working with Huddersfield Unlimited regarding transport issues, including trans-Pennine rail electrification and upgrade proposals.

Promoting active travel through liaison with Kirklees Council officers and an increasing input into projects funded through West Yorkshire Combined Authority.

Organising workshops and events to share and promote ideas and initiatives on key issues affecting the town, as well as sharing knowledge about its history, culture and heritage.

Publishing ‘Highfields – a Most Handsome Suburb’, a companion guide to ‘The Villas of Edgerton’, as well as complementing other HCS publications.

Continual development of the HCS website, helping ensure not only members but many others have access to news and information relating to the work of the society and the town itself.