The council has introduced Blueprints across Kirklees with the aim of making its towns and villages great places to live, work and visit. Councillors listened to the priorities for investment and regeneration for Marsden.
The Masterplan sets out a strategic framework and the proposals, as with others across the district, have been shaped by extensive community input and feedback.
The council is promoting a collaborative approach, working with the Marsden Community Partnership, local businesses, landowners, and other partners to shape plans and actively pursue opportunities to attract and facilitate private and public investment as part of their delivery.
The Marsden Blueprint aims to strengthen communities, improve public spaces, protect heritage, boost the local economy, provide affordable housing, and promote sustainability. The emerging proposals for the New Mills redevelopment will act as a catalyst for wider improvements, addressing needs across housing, jobs, and public spaces. The Blueprint also identifies ways of integrating the mill site development so that it becomes a new living component of the village and that they will feed each other economically.
The Blueprint means the council are able to respond to major investment opportunities to maximum effect, such as the planned upgrades to Marsden Station through the Transpennine Route Upgrade.
Key areas for improvement identified in the Masterplan include Peel Street, Goodsyard, Lakeside, and station arrival points. Initial funding of up to £140,000 will be used to develop concept designs for Peel Street, supported by UKSPF and Local Centres contributions.
Now that councillors have approved the masterplan, it will launch a long-term programme, using the masterplan as the foundation for ongoing engagement, project development, and future investment.
Councillor Graham Turner, Cabinet Member for Finance and Regeneration, said:
‘’We are lucky to have such a variety of amazing towns and villages in Kirklees, and we are committed to making sure our places, and the people in them, have the opportunities to meet their full potential. The Marsden Blueprint is about bringing energy back to the places that matter most. Investing in small towns isn’t just about new buildings or highway improvements; it’s about creating opportunities for residents and businesses, sparking pride, and helping communities thrive together.
“As with all our blueprints, infrastructure, preserving heritage and open spaces are key and, by taking a more collaborative approach, this plan will build a future for Marsden we can all be excited about.’’
Tom Lonsdale, Chair of the Marsden Blueprint Community Partnership said:
“It has been a pleasure and an honour for me to chair the Partnership overseeing and guiding this study. Its recommendations feel like a reward for years of community activism that began with rescuing and reviving Marsden Mechanics and then blossomed into ambitious regeneration plans for what we think of as home but also believe is a jewel in the Kirklees crown.
The new station and reinvention of the Goodsyard and village centre will underline Marsden’s status as an historic example of a Pennine textile and communications centre and a future gateway to the whole South Pennines landscape. The collaboration between the Council, community and consultants Allies and Morrison has been exemplary throughout, recognising that potential and signposting the roadmap for delivery.”
This project is part-funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. In June 2023 Cabinet approved the use of UK Shared Prosperity Funding, to develop a masterplan for Marsden.
