Kirklees Council has unveiled Ignition Works as the new identity and vision for the former Gasworks Street site in Huddersfield, marking a major milestone in the site’s transformation.
The new identity and vision reflect the council’s ambition to attract private investment and transform the site into a new employment hub focused on health innovation, life sciences and advanced manufacturing.
The name Ignition Works represents more than just a reference to the site’s well known industrial heritage as Huddersfield’s former gasworks. It reflects a vision for the future, where ideas, innovation and collaboration can be turned into real-world impact.
Following Cabinet approval in March, the council introduced Ignition Works to a targeted audience of investors and developers at UKREiiF in May. The strong response demonstrated early market interest in the opportunity and helped raise the profile of the site, reinforce momentum across the wider innovation corridor, and begin valuable discussions ahead of the formal procurement process to appoint a private sector development partner later this year.
David Shepherd, Executive Director of Place, Kirklees Council said:
“Today’s launch of Ignition Works marks a bold new chapter for this site. It reflects our ambition to create a place where innovation can thrive and ideas can be turned into real-world opportunities.
By introducing Ignition Works on a national stage at places such as UKREiiF, we’re inviting investment, partnership and collaboration to help shape a new employment hub that builds on Huddersfield’s growing strengths in innovation, health and advanced manufacturing. The site will complement the University of Huddersfield’s groundbreaking National Health Innovation Campus, providing space for businesses that want to co-locate and collaborate.”
Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire, said:
“Our Local Growth Plan is boosting the region’s fastest growing sectors and backing local businesses to get the skills, workspace and investment they need to thrive.
“We’re working with businesses and the council to unlock new investment, create well-paid jobs and grow our world leading health and life sciences sector.
“Alongside the National Health Innovation Campus, this site will become a nationally significant centre of excellence for innovation, driving the development of life changing technologies, and contributing to a brighter West Yorkshire that works for all.”
Ignition Works was first identified as a strategic opportunity to improve the supply of high-quality employment land close to the town centre in the Station to Stadium Enterprise Corridor Masterplan, approved in 2022. The site was previously home to a number of gasholders, which were demolished in the 1960s and 1970s. The freehold is owned by Kirklees Council, with some leasehold interests remaining in place.
While the name and identity are new, the site’s location next to the University of Huddersfield’s National Health Innovation Campus (NHIC)continues to offer a significant opportunity for businesses to co-locate alongside world-leading research and innovation expertise. The council will seek a development partner later this year to turn the vision into reality.
Artist Impressions of Ignition Works site (for illustrative purposes only) from architects Bond Bryan: Fairhursts
