Venue to 'breathe life' back into town - analyst

The opening of a new leisure facility at a shopping centre in Huddersfield could "breathe new life" back into the town, a retail analyst has said.

The launch of the six-screen cinema and entertainment venue at the Kingsgate Shopping Centre follows the departure of retailers such as Miss Selfridge and House of Fraser from the site.

Bosses behind the 70,000 sq ft (6,500 sq m) venue, known as The Light, estimated it would bring about 90 full and part-time jobs to the town.

Retail analyst Catherine Shuttleworth told the BBC: "Repurposing space for leisure, as in this development with cinemas and places to go, is quite sensible."

Opened in 2002, Kingsgate Shopping Centre was once heralded as "the beating heart" of Huddersfield.

Since then, several household names which once had shops there have disappeared, though other big names still have a retail presence at the centre.

Ms Shuttleworth said Huddersfield had been "a very sad story of retailers pulling out and making their investments in places like White Rose and Leeds city centre".

"Business rates have become huge and because more of us are shopping online, the traditional shopping centre in a town centre has really changed and evolved", she said.

Traditional shopping habits in town centres had also been transformed, leaving "lots of empty shops", Ms Shuttleworth added.

Set over three floors, The Light's development has been seen as a key component of the Huddersfield Blueprint, Kirklees Council's regeneration plan for the town.

It features a games arcade, an adventure climbing arena and axe throwing among other activities.

However, retail stores will remain a feature of the wider Kingsgate Centre, as well as an additional kitchen and bar area.

Samantha Sharp, manager of Huddersfield BID, said The Light development was a "sensible, proactive decision" that would encourage people to "stay local".

"The people of Huddersfield deserve a bigger, better night time economy," Ms Sharp said.

"People want a more rounded experience. They want to shop but meet their friends, have lunch, maybe go to the cinema.

"This is good for families: teenagers can go and spend time together in a safe environment."

Meanwhile, Kirklees councillor Graham Turner, cabinet member for finance and regeneration, said a new cinema and leisure venue in the centre of Huddersfield would make a "colossal difference".

"This offering is just what the town needs right now and will give people more reasons for people to visit Huddersfield and explore not just this but everything the town has to offer.

"That extra footfall will be fantastic for other local businesses," he said.

Ms Shuttleworth said she believed "creative investment" like that in Huddersfield was the key to reviving high streets across West Yorkshire and beyond.

"Repurposing space for leisure, as in this development with cinemas and places to go, is quite sensible," she said.

"You need to become a destination for something."

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