Huddersfield Civic Society’s annual architecture award has gone to a student who has devised a highly innovative building in China.

Andrew Billington, an architecture student at the University of Huddersfield’s Department of Architecture and 3D Design, has won the Society’s coveted Peter Stead Sustainable Architecture Award.

Andrew prepared a design proposal for an Amphibi-Tecture Centre shown in these images, aimed at connecting researchers, educators and students in issues linked to ecology and the environment.

The proposed location of the centre is Haiyan, a rural village in south-west China near Kunming, the capital of Yunnan Province. Students were asked to design at this location as part of the university's international BA programme.
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Normally the students would have visited the area for three to four weeks in order to get to know it, understand the local context, carry out an urban analysis, identify a building type and location and develop design solutions. Since a visit was not possible, information was provided by staff who had visited previously and through specialist lectures delivered by local professors from the Yunnan Arts University which has long links with Huddersfield. Co-ordination between students and the civic society was undertaken by Adrian Pitts, Professor of Sustainable Architecture.

​It is noteworthy that Kunming is the location for the United Nation’s CBD COP 15 (Convent on Biological Diversity) UN Biodiversity Conference in October 2021.  This important and large-scale event acted as one of the inspirations for students’ studies of the local context and development of designs.

Andrew’s design took inspiration from the traditional timber houses in the village and innovatively created framework that presents a simple but effective image of the building, flowing from the land to the water.

Judges felt the concept of ‘amphibious’ provided a strong technical solution that captured a contemporary interpretation of local traditions developed over a long history.  The relationship between circulation routes, public and private spaces in the building were well considered within the fluid spaces created both inside and outside.

A range of existing and new technologies were used to support the sustainability of the building, including renewable energy sources, use of low impact materials, rainwater harvesting, use of natural ventilation and ‘passive’ design strategies, plus suitable landscaping around the building.
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The judges, comprised of four civic society committee members said: “Andrew’s presentation was impressive, demonstrating its benefits for the locality and the wider community. It was clear how the building’s components fitted together and how each area would be used.  The use of Glulam, an engineered laminated timber, provided an economical, strong and sustainable alternative to concrete and steel. A confident and thorough submission.” 

Huddersfield Civic Society is criticising a controversial road improvement scheme on one of Huddersfield’s busiest roads.

Kirklees Council has revealed its plans to improve traffic flow along the A629 Halifax Road from Huddersfield ring road up to the Ainley Top roundabout.

While HCS supports some aspects of the plans it is worried about the number of trees that would be felled in the Edgerton Conservation Area.

HCS member Geoff Hughes says: “We are highly critical of several aspects of this scheme and objects particularly strongly to many aspects of the plans for the Blacker Road junction which involve the felling of around 80 mature trees as we believe this will seriously damage the entrance to the Edgerton Conservation Area.
 
“HCS therefore asks that Kirklees Council withdraws this part of the A629 traffic scheme in view of the harm caused and the fact that the council’s own traffic measurements show this is not the section of the A629 where the main delays occur.”
 
Here are the HCS objections which have been submitted to Kirklees Council.

The full planning applications for the A629 Phase 5 road improvement scheme are on the Kirklees website planning section and the numbers are 2021/48/92734/W and 2021/65/92745/W

Scheme Overall - Objections

1) The absence of a summary (including description, index, list of changes across all subjects since the June 2018 consultation) plus the large number of documents and the different, and often inconsistent, approaches taken for each subject and for each area of the scheme together represent serious obstacles to citizens gaining an understanding of the changes being proposed and being able to make constructive comments.

2) We note that the traffic forecasts upon which the scheme is based appear to be dated 2015 and early 2016 and that they assume continuous growth, no account being made of either the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic or of additional traffic likely to be attracted to the A629 once any scheme is completed.

3) We can find no calculations to support a carbon impact analysis of the planned increase in traffic and thus how this scheme supports Kirklees Council’s declared ‘Climate Emergency’.

4) We can find no calculations to support the assertion that the increase in nitrous oxide pollution will be within safe limits.

5) We dispute the assertion that the overall scheme, which involves creating two new parking areas in woodland, felling dozens of mature trees and suggesting their replacement with, among others, 32 leylandii conifers, produces the claimed net increase in biodiversity. We can find no calculations to support this assertion.

6) This scheme should not be progressed without consideration of its impact on surrounding roads and local residents. A local traffic management scheme should be an integral part of such a trunk road scheme, as is the case for Kirklees Council’s currently proposed A641 Bradford Road scheme that includes a traffic management scheme for roads in the nearby part of Birkby.

7) We are disappointed that this A629 Phase 5 vehicle-only traffic scheme is not accompanied by the A629 Phase 4 scheme which is intended to encourage cycling and walking in the area.
 
Area C (Birchencliffe) and Area D (Yew Tree Road to Ainley Top)

HCS is broadly supportive of these elements of the scheme but has the following objections:

8) There is very limited consideration of the needs of local pedestrians, cyclists and drivers who wish to turn into, out of or across the A629 at the road junctions in Birchencliffe. While new house building continues at the top of the Grimescar valley, all local services are on the opposite (Lindley) side of the A629. This forces people into car use for short local journeys and encourages accidents at the already dangerous A629 crossing points.

9) The lack of a local traffic management scheme will result in a continuing increase in non-local vehicles using local roads. The addition of an extra lane from Yew Tree Road up to the Ainley Top roundabout will support the scheme’s own forecast of a steady increase in traffic cutting down this road to reach the M62. Why not have disincentives to traffic taking such a short-cut? Also, why not a ban on HGVs taking short-cuts to/from the A629 on specific through roads in Edgerton, Lindley and Birchencliffe?
 
AREA B (Cavalry Arms junction)

10) The Society asks that a method is found to guarantee that the proposed replacement tree planting in adjoining properties is both undertaken and maintained in subsequent years.
 
Area A (Blacker Road junction)

The Society strongly objects to many of the plans in this area and believes they will seriously damage the entrance to the Edgerton Conservation Area. We ask that Kirklees Council withdraws this part of the traffic scheme as this is the area where most harm is caused yet the submitted traffic measurements show that the main delays currently occur at the other Phase 5 scheme locations.

11) We object to the intention to fell over 80 mature trees around the Blacker Road junction as we consider this will seriously harm the appearance of the Edgerton Conservation Area.

12) We consider the proposed mitigation to be woefully inadequate. From reading the various arboricultural documents we note that much of the replacement planting of trees, shrubs and hedges appears to be proposed for nearby private gardens. We see no explanation of how this planting in private gardens will be made to happen, let alone that planting will be kept to maturity, for instance replacement trees being subject to Tree Preservation Orders. We cannot see that nearby residents, some of whom lose land to the scheme, will want these plantings, particularly when tree growth will progressively reduce light into their houses.

13) We consider 37 leylandii conifers as replacement trees to be woeful. The Royal Horticultural Society website suggests these grow to between 12m and 30m after 10 to 20 years. In the planting scheme they would form a uniform high green wall, cast thick shadows and appear hideous when pruned as there is no regrowth from the ‘dead’ wood of this species. We also note that Leylandii are often described as not supporting bird or insect life and that, by shading/drying out surrounding land, they kill-off surrounding plant life and the fauna that depends on it.

14) While some of the proposed replacement tree specimens are creditable, much is not and some appears highly eccentric. A case in point is the proposal for what amounts to a green ‘wall’ of 48 Prunus lusitanica (Portugal laurel) - plus other planting - below 32 of the leylandii in just five adjoining Edgerton Green gardens. If such a density of dull planting could succeed in establishing here it would represent a serious deterioration in appearance and biodiversity at the entrance to the Edgerton Conservation Area.

15) We note mention of 15 to 30-year continuing management plans for the trees and hedges but no mention of how such management plans might operate and be enforced, nor of their needing to be included in an update to Kirklees’ Council’s Conservation Area Appraisal for the Edgerton Conservation Area.

Online petitions are available should members wish to sign. The one that most closely matches HCS’ position on this scheme can be found if you click here.

People will be able to see behind the scenes at almost 60 locations in Kirklees next month as part of the national Heritage Open Days festival which will run for 10 consecutive days from September 10-19.

After significant reductions in 2020 due to the COVID pandemic, this year sees an extensive and varied Kirklees programme with 59 locations opening their doors and simply scroll down the attached pamphlet to see them all.

Alongside old favourites there are over 20 new entries, many of them celebrating this year’s national theme, Edible England.  Some events are also part of the Huddersfield High Street Heritage Action Zone cultural programme, centred on St George’s Square.    

The selection offers an insight many places that are not always open to the public.  Sites include Dewsbury’s oldest shop, John Greenwood, and intimate local history museum, High Flatts Quaker Meeting House along with several Anglican churches, a look behind the scenes at town halls, the Lawrence Batley Theatre, the Platform 1 project at Huddersfield station, and even a Holmfirth Graveyard Walk.

The ‘Edible’ theme provides an opportunity to discover both some special foodie delights plus a taste of gardens and allotments. Cleckheaton Library reveals a local heritage involving Midget Gems and the original Fentiman’s botanical brews, while the Colne and Holme Valleys offer smallholding and landscaping projects to explore.

Huddersfield events include sound and colour featuring carnival costumes and dancers, walks that explore Irish heritage and textiles, a talk about the celebrated Huddersfield architect W H Crossland and an open day at his very first building. A festival hub on the Piazza, hosted by West Yorkshire Archive Service, will stage exhibitions and information on five of the 10 days.

All venues and events are free, although this year more than usual must be booked.  For details of the venues and events in the Kirklees area and beyond go to the national website www.heritageopendays.org.uk. and search ‘Kirklees’. The Kirklees HOD brochure will be available from information points across the district from the end of August.

Please note that all events will be managed in accordance with any Covid restrictions in force at the time.
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On behalf of the dedicated voluntary organisers, Kirklees Heritage Open Days committee co-ordinator, David Griffiths said: “We are all very excited about the opportunity to open our doors once again to the many people who enjoy visiting our buildings and taking part in a variety of walks, talks and activities. This year’s festival, especially with its ‘Edible’ theme, provides one of our most varied selections ever and something for all to enjoy.”
 
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As the summer sun begins to fade there are lots of events which I’m sure will be of interest to many of our members. Perhaps, foremost among these is the talk about W H Crossland who I have long considered to be one of the country’s finest Victorian architects.

Monday, September 13 at 7.30pm
 A ‘great’ among Victorian architects? Huddersfield’s W H Crossland

Meet: New North Road Baptist Church, New North Parade, Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, HD1 5JU
 
Many of Huddersfield’s best buildings are by local architect William Henry Crossland (1835-1908), including Estate Buildings, Byram Arcade, Kirkgate Buildings and the old Post Office. 
 
Born in Elland and brought up at Longwood House, Netheroyd Hill, he gained national recognition for a number of outstanding buildings including Rochdale Town Hall and the Royal Holloway College at Egham in Surrey. This talk by his biographer, Sheila Binns, will give an overview of Crossland’s work and his poignant personal story.
 
Hurry though as 50 tickets will be available to HCS and Huddersfield Local History Society members until Saturday, August 28 before the remaining 30 are offered via Eventbrite as one of this year’s Heritage Open Day events. More about these events is mentioned below.
 
To reserve a free place for yourself and one guest contact HCS Treasurer, Michael Barron, Email: mj.barron@btinternet.com; Tel: 01484 537080.
 
Discover Huddersfield Walks’ Programme
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The Discover Huddersfield walks’ programme is proving as popular as ever, but with numbers limited on each walk pre-booking through Eventbrite is essential. Each walk can be booked up to 14 days before it is scheduled to take place. Walks cost £4 per person and generally last between 90 minutes and 2 hours.

Here are the walks scheduled over the coming month:
 
Sunday, August 15, 2.30pm
Huddersfield’s Radical Heritage
 
Meet: St. George’s Square (Harold Wilson Statue)
 
Cyril Pearce follows the steps of those involved in Huddersfield’s most dramatic, turbulent and radical moments of our local and national history, exploring the buildings and places associated with events such as the campaign for factory reform, the Luddites, Chartism and the emergence of socialist and co-operative movements. The walk ends at the former Hall of Science on Bath Street.
 
Book through
 
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/huddersfield-radical-heritage-tickets-161207053637
 
Sunday, August 22, 2.30pm
Georgian Huddersfield
 
Meet: Market Cross, Market Place, Huddersfield town centre
 
We think of Huddersfield as a Victorian town, but its transformation from ‘miserable village’ to ‘handsome town’ went on apace for several decades before Victoria came to the throne in 1837 and there is still much to see from that late Georgian period. Local historian David Griffiths will visit a variety of surviving buildings and the sites of some that have been lost in and around the town centre.
 
Book through
 
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/georgian-huddersfield-tickets-161207779809
 
Thursday, September 2, 6pm
The Changing Face of Birkby
 
Meet: Outside St. John’s Church, St. John’s Road, Birkby, HD1 5EA
 
Join Lorna and Frank to explore the history of famous firms such as Hopkinsons engineering and Ben Shaws drinks as well as co-ops, a cinema, grand houses, churches and mosques, transport links, gardens, breweries and a workhouse. 
 
You will also discover older heritage sites, the medieval motte and bailey fortification on Beacon Street and the timber-framed Bay Hall all showcasing Birkby’s development from a green suburb to the densely populated multicultural community we know today.
 
Book through
 
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-changing-face-of-birkby-tickets-161209525029
 
Kirklees Heritage Open Days 2021

The 59 locations will be opening their doors or offering events as part of Kirklees-wide involvement in the national Heritage Open Days festival which this year will run for 10 consecutive days from September 10 to 19. I attach a web readable version of this year’s brochure.

Despite significant reductions in 2020 due to the COVID pandemic, this year, while not quite reaching the heights of 2019, sees a fuller Kirklees programme and, alongside old favourites, there are a number of new entries, many of them celebrating this year’s national theme, Edible England.  Some events are also part of the Huddersfield High Street Heritage Action Zone cultural programme, centred on St George’s Square.    

Huddersfield events include sound and colour featuring carnival costumes and dancers, five Discover Huddersfield walks including Irish Heritage and Textile trails as well as regular participants including Lindley Clock Tower.
All venues and events are free, although some must be pre-booked.  For details of the venues and events in the Kirklees area and beyond go to the national website www.heritageopendays.org.uk and search ‘Kirklees’. The Kirklees HOD brochure will be distributed to information points around the district by the end of the August.

Please note that all events will be managed in accordance with any Covid restrictions in force at the time.
 
Transpennine Rail Improvements

As you may have read on the HCS website, HCS is now guaranteed representation, together with Huddersfield Unlimited, at the intended public enquiry this autumn on Network Rail’s scheme to electrify and substantially improve the Transpennine rail route between Huddersfield and Westtown, Dewsbury. This is to help ensure the scheme is used to improve and regenerate the area around Huddersfield station, as described in the Station Gateway elements of Kirklees Council’s Huddersfield Blueprint.

On July 6 we submitted a formal ‘Statement of Case’ which describes the need to include in the scheme substantially more parking for car users and better, well-lit routes for walkers and cyclists into, and across, both sides of Huddersfield station.  The full document is on our recent news item headlined HCS to have its say on Network Rail’s Huddersfield railway improvements.

HCS particularly wants the rail scheme to be used as an opportunity to open up the woefully underused area around the station warehouse and link it, via the station, to St George’s Square.

Our comments complement those of other organisations, including Kirklees Council and the Kirklees Cycling campaign.

The submission has since been formally acknowledged and HCS, together with Huddersfield Unlimited, is now confirmed as one of the oral participants at any public enquiry. 

Thanks to those in both HCS and HU who contributed and, particularly, to HCS Committee colleague Geoff Hughes who drafted the submission.
 
Further news on recent responses to planning applications and more can be found on this HCS website.
 
Enjoy August.
 
David Wyles

A walk will explore some of Huddersfield’s key religious sites.

The free event on Sunday, August 15, will stop at a mosque along with Sikh and Hindu temples and is part of the first Sangam Festival in Huddersfield which celebrates South Asian arts, culture and heritage.

For more on the festival which is running until August 17 click here. 

The Peace Walk next Sunday will be led by Hardeep Sahota and will set off from the bandstand in Greenhead Park at 11am.

First stop will be the Sikh soldier memorial in Greenhead Park.

The walkers will then move on to the Jamia Masjid Osman mosque on Upper George Street, Huddersfield.

Next stop is the Hindu Mandir at 20 Zetland Street in Huddersfield town centre and then finally the Gurdwa Singh Sabha Sikh temple on Hillhouse Lane, Hillhouse.

Register for the walk by clicking here.

The walk is part of the Sangam Festival launched across Kirklees this summer with a mix of venue-based, outdoor and digital events.

This celebration of South Asian heritage includes heritage, arts and cultural events, including talks and trails on the history of textiles and mill workers in the area; workshops exploring family history; art and photography exhibitions; film screenings; dance and music performance from Bollywood brass bands to classical Qawalli inspired by Sufi poetry.
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It is funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and Arts Council National Lottery Project Grants to run during South Asian Heritage Month from July 18 to August 17.

Huddersfield Civic Society is now guaranteed representation, together with Huddersfield Unlimited, at the intended public enquiry this autumn on Network Rail’s scheme to electrify and substantially improve the Transpennine rail route between Huddersfield and Westtown in Dewsbury.
 
This is to help ensure the scheme is used to improve and regenerate the area around Huddersfield station, as described in the Station Gateway elements of Kirklees Council’s Huddersfield Blueprint.
 
On July 6 we submitted a formal Statement of Case (please see attached document) which describes the need to include in the scheme substantially more parking for car users and better, well-lit routes for walkers and cyclists into and across both sides of Huddersfield station.
 
The Society particularly wants the rail scheme to be used as an opportunity to open up the woefully underused area around the station warehouse and link it, via the station, to St George’s Square.
 
Our comments complement those of other organisations, including Kirklees Council and the Kirklees Cycling campaign.
 
The submission has since been formally acknowledged and the Society, together with Huddersfield Unlimited, is now confirmed as one of the oral participants at any public enquiry.
 
Thanks to those in both HCS and HU who contributed to the submission.