Potentially up to £9 million might be obtained to help restore and bring back into use a much-loved Halifax community centre – but councillors have been asked “but is it necessary?”
In mid-July Calderdale Council’s Cabinet backed a last-chance bid to save one of the council’s historic buildings, Queens Road Neighbourhood Centre, at the heart of Park ward.
The Grade II-listed building could potentially be transferred by Calderdale Council to highly-regarded – it runs two other council buildings on the same basis – Halifax Opportunities Trust (HOT) to take on.
Cabinet agreed to back a course of events which are dependent on successful National Lottery cash applications.
If, over two stages, these come off, that could bring around £9 million of investment into Calderdale, councillors heard.
But at a questions-to-Cabinet session at August’s meeting of the senior councillors, it has been questioned whether revitalising the Queens Road Neighbourhood Centre is necessary, as there is another community hub very close by.
Mr Ahmed asked the 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 asked if the council has carried out a “comprehensive, underlying, professional risk assessment, including the benefit and option analysis for QRNC, apart from the one which has already been published?”
Mr Ahmed said HOT has proposed key usage of the centre if the proposals are successful is to create a community hub.
But, he said, “Park ward already has a community hub – Raven Street Centre, run by UC3 Community Hub.
“How can the council justify creating a competing hub costing £9 million less than 200 metres away?
“You can create a whole estate for that amount of money.
“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,” he said.
Responding, Cabinet member for Corporate Services, Assets and Resources, Coun Mike Payne, said Cabinet had resolved to support a community asset transfer to HOT of the centre to bring the currently unused Grade II-listed building back into use.
It does not require any council cash, he said.
Coun Payne (Reform UK, Sowerby Bridge) said: “Halifax Opportunities Trust are progressing their plans and are pursuing a range of funding sources to deliver their scheme.
“This does not include any requirement for funding from the council.
“In fact, if their plans progress successfully, Halifax Opportunities Trust have committed to taking on full responsibility for the management and maintenance of the building from December 2027.
“This would remove ongoing risks and costs from the council,” he said.
Cabinet councillors heard in July this was a “last chance” to save the Queens Road centre.
Councillors agreed to partner HOT in the first lottery bid – ultimately two applications would be needed, the first for up to a maximum of £610,000, for the development stage of plans only.
The next, delivery, stage would involve an HOT application which could realise £5 million, and with HOT also speaking to other funders, a total of £9 million might be achieved, the councillors were told.
If bidding for National Lottery cash fails at either of two stages the building can ultimately be sold at auction.
It badly needs major refurbishment and a previous HOT application to the National Lottery Heritage Fund in 2025 for funds was unsuccessful.
The building was closed last October because of health and safety concerns.