The £6 million transformation of Elland town centre is now complete, ensuring it remains a thriving, safe and enjoyable place to spend time. The completion of work at Southgate was the final step in this ambitious project, which was made possible with over £6 million of funding from the UK Government’s Future High Streets Fund.
Representatives from West Yorkshire’s Calderdale Council and the contractor, Eric Wright Civil Engineering, marked the overall project completion with an official visit to see the transformation first-hand in August 2024 – Elland Market, the main high street area and the new Elland Community Hub.
As part of the Council’s priority for thriving towns and places, the work in Elland aimed to make it easier and more pleasant for residents, workers and visitors to enjoy all the great things to see and do in the town centre.
Investment in Elland’s marketplace has been a key part of the project, preserving the town’s heritage – it first hosted a market in the 12th century. To ensure this remains a welcoming and vibrant part of the high street for generations to come, the Market Square area has been upgraded, with new local stone flags and anchor points to secure the stalls. The revamped market reopened in February 2024. The improvement of Victoria Gardens next to the market, with new trees and plants, gives people an attractive place to sit, relax and socialise.
The transformation of the high street is making it more appealing to shoppers and people enjoying their leisure time in Elland. Southgate, the main shopping street, has been improved between the junction with Victoria Road and the junction with Westgate and Northgate. There are wider footpaths, new level crossings, new local stone flags, anti-skid surfaces, granite setts, benches to rest and meet, and street trees and plants that make the area more attractive and help drain away rainwater for flood resilience, as part of the Council’s climate action priority.
The main high street area is now mainly for people who are walking or cycling. Limited loading is available for residents and businesses and there is access for private off-street parking. Timber Street car park can now be accessed from Victoria Road/Southgate.
There are new drop-off bays and parking for people with disabilities on Coronation Street, with a ramped footpath providing safe, step-free access to the high street.
