Halifax Town Centre

6.35 Halifax Town Centre is the most important within the District and is the fifth largest retail centre in West Yorkshire. It is also a major administrative and employment centre with the Council’s own headquarters, together with the Halifax Bank of Scotland (HBOS) and major employment centres at Dean Clough and the Nestlé factory. The Council will seek to maintain and enhance the role of Halifax within the countywide retail hierarchy over the Plan period and to bolster the economy of the town through renaissance of the town and its centre. The provision of good quality facilities for residents, visitors and shoppers will be encouraged to ensure that the centre can compete effectively with other centres in the hierarchy and the ‘out-of-centre’ retail parks. The continued success of retailing within the town centre is fundamental to the continued vitality and viability of the centre. However, the whole range of land uses expected to be found within a town centre contribute to the vitality and vibrancy of the town, and it is important also to plan properly for these other uses as well.

6.36 The development of new bars, clubs and restaurants has been an important feature of the town centre over recent years, but fear of crime and public disorder is deterring some people from visiting the centre particularly in the evening or after dark. The management of the centre is essential to reduce conflicts between different uses as well as helping to reduce opportunities for crime and disorder. The introduction of an alcohol ban on streets within the town centre has given the Police a useful tool against anti-social behaviour.

6.37 The town centre’s role will be further enhanced during the Plan period through:-

  1. improvements to the range and quality of shopping facilities, together with the retention and enhancement of the existing facilities including the market;
  2. improvements to the variety of employment, leisure and service activities and facilities;
  3. improvements to the centre’s accessibility;
  4. improvements to the quality of the environment;
  5. encouraging residential uses within the centre and improvements to the residential amenity of areas within the centre;
  6. developing the town’s night time economy in a manner that is compatible with other objectives;
  7. implementing Crime and Disorder legislation and developing the centre’s management; and
  8. development and implementation of the Halifax Town Centre Strategy, as reviewed from time to time.

Halifax : "Streets Ahead" - the Renaissance Strategy

6.38 Since the Draft Replacement UDP was published in November 2002, Yorkshire Forward has commenced their Urban Renaissance Programme. One of the main aims of this programme is to “restore civic pride and economic dynamism in town centres by involving local people in designing then implementing masterplans in over 20 towns and market towns".

6.39 The Halifax Renaissance Project Town Team has developed ideas for how Halifax could develop over the next 20 to 25 years. These focus upon creating a world class destination building upon the four major assets that the centre has; the Piece Hall, Eureka!, Dean Clough and the integrity of the town centre as a whole. Generally schemes and proposals will come forward within the framework already existing provided by the UDP within the Town Centre. However, there is one particular scenario that needs to have a specific policy framework: the theme of re-populating the valley bottom. Halifax was founded along the Hebble Brook near to where the Parish Church is sited. During the medieval period the town continued to develop in that part of the valley. It was only with the coming of the industrial revolution that the mills, power station, railway and gas works came to dominate that part of the town. People were displaced and the opportunity now exists to reclaim the valley bottom for the people of Halifax, to bring the Parish Church back into the heart of the town and to create a sustainable living community. The Renaissance Strategy recognises that there are conflicting pressures for development in that part of the town. However it suggests that the most appropriate course of action would be to signal regeneration through the development of a sustainable community focussed around the Parish Church and new parkland formed along the course of the reopened Hebble Brook (currently culverted). This view has received support from the Council and generally through public participation on the Renaissance Project. As a result the following Policy will apply: -

Policy S 10

Halifax Residential Priority Regeneration Area

The Halifax Residential Priority Regeneration Area is shown on the Proposals Map. Within this area regeneration efforts should be mindful of the objective of re-populating the valley bottom. Whilst existing uses are generally expected to continue, throughout the Plan period, new developments will be supported where they contribute to these aims. With the exception of residential proposals, large scale single use developments will not be considered appropriate.

6.40 As the Renaissance Project and the strategies arising from it are new activity, it is likely that there will be further need for refining policy and the introduction of supplementary advice or Development Plan Documents through the Local Development Framework to assist in the development process.

Areas of Special Consideration in Halifax Town Centre

6.41 There are areas within the centre where increased residential use could bring empty buildings back into use, although it will be important to protect the amenity of possible residents within these areas, and also to assist the existing businesses. As a result several areas within the centre are defined on the Proposals Map within which differing considerations will apply.

Office Amenity Area within Halifax Town Centre

6.42 The Halifax Town Centre Strategy 2000 identified the scope for possible conflicts between different types of land use activities within the office area of the town centre. These conflicts relate to the potential for essentially evening activities to replace or displace daytime uses which support the principal commercial activities within the area. As a result, it is considered prudent to ensure that new uses or activities support the daytime economy within the office area. An Office Amenity Area has been defined within the centre, within which the daytime uses are considered to provide the predominant character of the area. Whilst evening uses will help to enliven the area after work hours, it is considered important to support the predominant activity as well. Rather than leaving areas of inactivity throughout the day which could reduce the attractiveness of parts of the centre for business investment, it is considered important to try to ensure that uses are generally supportive of the daytime business community. Office supplies, catering establishments, newsagents, and other convenience activities would be seen to support the area, however nightclubs and other purely evening activity would not be appropriate unless they were on upper floors where the ground floors continue in daytime use. As a result the following Policy will apply:-

Policy S 11

Halifax Office Amenity Area

Proposals for the development, redevelopment or change of use of ground floor premises within the Office Amenity Area of Halifax Town Centre as defined on the Proposals Map will be permitted unless they would introduce uses which would not be compatible with or be complementary to the predominantly day time business/office use of the area, subject to the criteria in Policy S 2 ‘Criteria for Assessing Retail Developments’ (Part A) and other relevant UDP policies.

Residential Amenity Areas within Halifax Town Centre

6.43 During the Plan period it is hoped that the amount of residential uses within the town centre will increase. However, it will be important to protect prospective and existing residents from some aspects of the effects of the night-time economy, in particular noise and anti-social behaviour associated with alcohol. A number of areas have been designated within the town centre where the amenity of residential uses will be the primary consideration in considering changes of use.

Policy S 12

Halifax Residential Amenity Area

Within the Residential Amenity Areas as defined on the Proposals Map for Halifax Town Centre, consideration will be given to the amenity of existing or potential residential premises. All development should respect the amenity of the area so that residents are not subject to unacceptable noise, smells or disturbance, particularly late at night.

Mixed Use Day and Night Zone in Halifax Town Centre

6.44 Within Halifax Town Centre, a Mixed-Use Area, Day and Night Business Area focussed upon the Bull Green/George Street/Fountain Street Area has been defined and is shown on the Proposals Map. Within this area, specific consideration will be given to the need to retain vitality and interest during the day time as well as in the evening:-

Policy S 13

Halifax, Mixed-Use Day and Night Business Area

Proposals for the development, redevelopment or change of use of ground floor premises within the Mixed Use Day and Night Business Area of Halifax Town Centre shown on the Proposals Map will be permitted except where they would lead to more than 50% of the length of the frontage of any block of any street being in a use that is not shown to present an interesting and lively street scene during the principal shopping/office hours, subject to the criteria in Policy S 2 ‘Criteria for Assessing Retail Developments’ (Part A) and other relevant UDP Policies.

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