New images showing how the visitor centre at Castle Hill could look have been revealed, though the recently green-lit plans continue to cause a stir.
Last month, Kirklees Council’s Strategic Planning Committee made a landmark decision to approve controversial plans for the centre, which will be complete with a restaurant, six rooms and 41 car parking spaces. The facility will be situated on the north east of the site, currently used for parking. It will also come with a gallery, interactive rooms, toilets and a reception area.
Over 123 public representations were made in response to the latest plans – the majority of which were objections. Thousands of signatures in opposition had also been racked up across several petitions. But despite this, the committee opted to grant planning permission, with the Chair’s casting vote getting the application over the line.
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Councillors were among those who objected to the plans, with Cllr Andrew Cooper (Greens, Newsome) and Cllr Alison Munro (Lib Dems, Almondbury) speaking out at the committee meeting. The pair met Michael Broomhead from the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) at the ancient monument last week and told of their concerns.
Councillor Cooper described the plan to construct a modern hotel on Castle Hill as “absolutely crazy”. He said: “My message to the developers would be to abandon these proposals. We need places which don’t have development on them. We need places that are wild. We need places like this, which are treasured by local people. Just building something for commercial gain is not what we want on Castle Hill.”
Councillor Munro (Lib Dems), who objected to the plans on several grounds, including parking provision and the impacts on the local highway network, told the LDRS: “I’ve received lots of comments from people who are really disappointed in the result of the planning application. People are quite angry about it.”
During the application process, the applicant – the Thandi Partnership – said the scheme will deliver several community benefits including free access and refreshments for visiting school groups, a staffed information desk, public toilets and accessible facilities. Indy Thandi, Director of the Castle Hill Visitor Centre Community Interest Company which will operate the new centre, said the plans are about “giving meaning” to what is already there.
He continued: “For the first time, people will be able to understand over 4,000 years of history in one place, supported by high-quality education, interpretation and calm, inclusive facilities that allow longer, safer visits for everyone.
“…The building is designed to support the hill, not dominate it, reflecting a clear understanding of national heritage responsibility, public benefit and long-term care, working within established conservation and management frameworks, and ensuring Castle Hill is protected, understood and enjoyed by generations to come.”
Mr Thandi also shared that the “modest” overnight rooms will be named after female British monarchs – the Queen Mary Tudor, Queen Elizabeth Tudor, Queen Mary II, Queen Anne Stuart, Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth Windsor rooms. The centre will also be home to the Victoria Café and Coffee House, the Victoria Tower Restaurant and Bar, and the Crown Gift Shop. He said the facilities have been designed specifically for walkers, researchers, heritage visitors and families supporting children studying in Huddersfield.
Under the vision, the building will be set across three floors, with a kitchen area, staff facilities and toilets in a basement below the existing ground level. A reception, shop, interactive rooms and gallery, toilets, bedrooms and staff entrance will be situated on the “earth sheltered” ground floor. And the first floor, which will be fully above ground, will house a 70-cover restaurant, with a lift and viewing terrace.
Before development can go ahead, Scheduled Monument Consent (SMC) – an additional permission required for certain archaeological sites or monuments – will need to be obtained from Historic England. Plans for a similar development at Castle Hill in recent years were stopped in their tracks when SMC was not secured within the necessary time frame.
Current planning permission once again comes with the condition that works must begin within three years but this time, Malcolm Sizer – the agent acting on behalf of the Thandi Partnership – told the committee that they are “very confident” that the necessary SMC will be secured and that development will take place within the required time frame.
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