Dewsbury town centre is being transformed by multi-million-pound regeneration schemes — but for some residents, something fundamental is still missing.
As work progresses on the market, bus station and railway station, campaigners continue to call for better leisure provision following the closure of Dewsbury Sports Centre three years ago.
A replacement leisure centre is planned, with £35m set aside, but it is not expected to open until at least 2031.
The wider regeneration programme includes the council’s Dewsbury Blueprint, a 10-year plan aimed at building on the town’s heritage, attracting more visitors and improving accessibility.
Some improvements are already complete. Dewsbury Arcade reopened last month following an £11m restoration, while public spaces around the town hall have also been upgraded.
Elsewhere, market traders have moved into temporary premises to make way for a new-look market and town park.
Here is where five of the town’s biggest projects stand.
Dewsbury Market
Work is underway to transform Dewsbury’s historic market, with plans for new spaces for eating, drinking, socialising and events alongside its traditional stalls.
The council says the aim is to “give people as many reasons as possible to visit Dewsbury”.
The revamped market will feature permanent indoor stalls and flexible outdoor stalls on a paved area outside the market hall. This will extend into a public park with greenery, artwork and a children’s play area.
Traders moved to temporary premises across Foundry Street and Market Place last month, where they are expected to remain for two years.
Some have expressed concern about the move and the market’s future. Councillor John Hardie, Cabinet Member for Regeneration, said maintaining a strong market during construction remained a “key priority”.
A new leisure centre
September marked three years since Dewsbury Sports Centre closed after reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC), which can be prone to collapse, was discovered in the building.
The centre, run by Kirklees Active Leisure, was initially expected to close temporarily. However, Kirklees Council’s previous Labour administration voted in November 2024 to make the closure permanent.
The former administration pledged to provide a replacement, with £35m allocated in the council’s latest budget. The new centre is not
expected to be completed until 2031.
At the most recent Full Council meeting, campaigners said the plans “do not solve the problem we have today”, warning that residents still lack access to suitable leisure facilities.
Councillor Simon Brophy, Cabinet Member for Strategic Finance and Local Government Efficiency, said an independent consultancy had been appointed to assess future options.
He said the council was progressing the work and was committed to making decisions informed by evidence to deliver the right outcomes for Dewsbury and the wider community.
Dewsbury Arcade
The Grade II-listed Victorian arcade reopened at the start of September following an £11m restoration, becoming the UK’s first community-run shopping arcade.
It is leased and managed by the Arcade Group, a not-for-profit community organisation.
The arcade had been due to open in autumn 2025, but the project encountered several obstacles. Rot and decay were found to be “far more significant” than initially anticipated.
Dewsbury Bus Station
The West Yorkshire Combined Authority is carrying out a £23m revamp of Dewsbury Bus Station to make it more modern, comfortable and functional.
The station will become part of the Weaver Network, the region’s transport system bringing together buses, trains, a future mass transit system, walking, wheeling and cycling.
Improvements include new toilets and a Changing Places facility, real-time information displays, refurbished shops, cycle parking and better
safety and security features.
The building will also have a planted “living roof” and energy-saving features, including solar panels.
The revamped station is expected to open next year.
Dewsbury Railway Station
Dewsbury Railway Station is being upgraded as part of the multi-billion-pound Transpennine Route Upgrade.
The programme covers the railway between Manchester, Huddersfield, Leeds and York, with improvements intended to increase capacity, reliability and accessibility and introduce electric trains.
At Dewsbury, platforms will be lengthened to 200 metres to accommodate longer trains, providing more space and seats for passengers.
Canopies and waiting areas will also be extended, while strengthening work will be carried out on the footbridge.
