Cabinet backs bid to save Grade II-listed building amid questions on need and cost
Calderdale Council’s Cabinet has endorsed a plan to pursue National Lottery funding to restore and return to use the Queens Road Neighbourhood Centre, a historic Grade II-listed building at the heart of Halifax’s Park ward. The move, approved in mid-July, could lead to the building being transferred to Halifax Opportunities Trust (HOT), which already manages two other council properties on a similar basis.
Cabinet papers set out a two-stage National Lottery application route that, if successful, could deliver around £9 million of investment to Calderdale. Council members were told the centre is currently unused and that HOT has proposed operating it as a community hub should funding be secured.
At a questions-to-Cabinet session in August, however, some councillors urged caution and asked whether the refurbishment is the best use of public resources. Concern was raised that Park ward already benefits from a nearby community facility, and that the project could duplicate existing provision.
"How can the council justify creating a competing hub costing £9 million less than 200 metres away?"
The challenge was put directly by Mr Ahmed, who asked for a comprehensive risk assessment and an options analysis in addition to the documentation already published. He highlighted that Raven Street Centre, run by UC3 Community Hub, serves as an established community hub in the same ward and suggested investment in that existing infrastructure would offer better value.
Mr Ahmed told councillors: "How does the council justify a refurbishment expenditure projected between £5 million and £9 million to revive and refurbish Queens Road Neighbourhood Centre?" He added: "Why doesn’t the council invest in the existing infrastructure at Raven Street Community Hub – cost a lot less for improvements and greater return on investment."
Cabinet member for Corporate Services, Assets and Resources, Coun Mike Payne, reiterated the Cabinet resolution to support a community asset transfer to HOT to bring the building back into use. Papers indicate the council’s support is contingent on successful National Lottery applications over two stages.
Funding, heritage and local provision
The debate touches on three interlinked issues for Halifax residents: the stewardship of a listed historic building, the allocation of substantial public and potential lottery funds, and the practical needs of Park ward’s communities. Supporters of the transfer argue that a properly restored Queens Road centre could offer long-term benefits, generate activity in a currently unused asset and be run by a not-for-profit with existing experience of managing council facilities.
Opponents or sceptics say the immediate community need is already being met nearby and that selective investment in Raven Street might produce faster, cheaper returns. The discussion also raises broader questions about how councils prioritise heritage conservation against frontline community services when public money is scarce.
| Item | Figure |
|---|---|
| Projected refurbishment cost (reported) | £5 million–£9 million |
| Potential investment if Lottery applications succeed | c. £9 million |
Next steps and local consequences
- Calderdale Council’s support for the transfer remains conditional on successful National Lottery funding at two stages.
- Councillors have requested further risk assessment and an options analysis to compare refurbishment of Queens Road with investment in Raven Street.
- Local residents and community groups will expect clarity on how services would be distributed between the two hubs if the project proceeds.
The decision now rests on whether HOT’s lottery bids progress and on further scrutiny from councillors seeking independent assurance that the proposed scheme represents the best value for the local community. For Park ward residents, the outcome will determine not just the fate of a listed building but how public funding is directed to meet everyday community needs in Halifax.
