Image: The new community library hub at Our Cultural Heart, opening summer 2026 (Kirklees Council)
Archive service moving over 20,000 boxes of historic records to new environmentally controlled facility as part of town centre regeneration scheme.
Kirklees Council has announced that the West Yorkshire Archive Service (WYAS) Kirklees hub will relocate to a new purpose-built facility.
Huddersfield’s flagship library development forms part of the Our Cultural Heart regeneration scheme.
The move will see over 20,000 boxes of historic records, dating back to the 12th century, transferred from the current Victoria Lane location to environmentally controlled storage.
The new facility has been designed to better preserve the borough’s archival collections. The existing WYAS Kirklees office will close at the end of July 2025 to facilitate the relocation process.
Specialist staff will package, label and barcode Kirklees’ archives in preparation for the move to the new facility. It will feature enhanced public research areas designed to improve access for residents, students and researchers. The archive facility will operate as a ‘history hub’ within the broader library development.
The relocation is part of Phase One of Our Cultural Heart, Kirklees Council’s town centre regeneration project to transform the former Queensgate Market site.
The development will include a food hall within the listed market building, a modern library hub extension, and a public square. Phase One is expected to reach practical completion by spring 2026, with full public opening scheduled for summer 2026.
The library hub will incorporate group meeting rooms, quiet breakout areas, a dedicated children’s area, maker-space and digital access points alongside the archive facility.
Councillor Graham Turner, Cabinet Member for Finance and Regeneration, said the new library hub would offer “far more than just access to books”.
Together, the new archive and library hub, alongside the food hall and adjoining public square, will form a cultural and social centre that gives people more reasons to visit Huddersfield town centre and spend more time here – ultimately helping to support our local businesses too.”
Phase Two of the Our Cultural Heart masterplan, which has received full planning approval, will see the former library and gallery building on Princess Alexandra Walk refurbished to accommodate a museum and art gallery. Work on this phase will commence following completion of Phase One.
