Construction Update: Dewsbury Arcade Refurbishment

Restoration of the historic Dewsbury Arcade is progressing well.

Backed by a £4.5 million grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, the ambitious project began on site in April 2024, with plans to reopen the Grade II-listed building in Spring 2026 as the UK’s first community-run shopping centre.

Originally designed by architect Albert Holmes Kirk and opened in 1899, the Arcade was a popular town centre destination until its closure in 2014. Now, extensive refurbishment is bringing the much-loved building back to life.

Recent progress includes the installation of new steel trusses - to provide strong, long-lasting support for the roof - and new Velux windows to enhance natural light. Roofing work on both the Marketplace and Corporation Street sides of the complex is largely complete, with only minor guttering works remaining. Three critical support columns have also been replaced in the former Moneypenny unit.

Additional works include block and beam flooring in the Marketplace bookend units, shopfront restoration, and ongoing stone repairs across all elevations. Iconic new stone “Arcade” lettering has also been installed on the Marketplace side, reinforcing the venue’s historic importance to the town.

Internally, a “sample unit” is being fitted out to showcase potential shop space, with first fix M&E and boiler installation underway. The next major milestone will be the installation of the Arcade’s glazed roof, carefully modernising its iconic glass-covered boulevard.