Kirklees progresses Dewsbury Blueprint
The glass roof on the town’s arcade is set to be replaced by Standard Patent Glazing, the Dewsbury-based company that installed the original glazed roof back in 1899.
The grade two-listed building has been vacant since 2016, and was purchased by Kirklees Council as part of the wider masterplan for the area, which it developed with BDP.
Once open, Arcade Group will operate the building’s leasing and management.
The main works on the building are being carried out by Yorkshire-based construction company William Birch and Sons.
In addition to the roof work, the original York stone floor has removed, cleaned and will be reinstated with level access throughout the ground floor.
A lift will also be installed at the Corporation Street end of the building, to allow step-free access to the first-floor event space.
In addition to the roof, the arcade has more than 131 windows, all of which must be conserved in line with the listed building planning rules.
Window restorers, GH Joinery, have started work on repairs and will use like-for-like replacements.
Work is being funded by the West Yorkshire Combined Authority’s Getting Building Fund, the government’s Towns Fund and the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
