Brighouse Town Centre Improvements
Your Questions Answered
Updated 1st October 2026
Many people have been getting in touch about the Town Centre Improvements which are now underway. We’ve put together answers to some of the most frequently asked questions we’ve received, and we’ll regularly keep this updated in the weeks ahead.
If you have any questions about the project, please do not hesitate to contact Calderdale Council who can direct your enquiry to the relevant party. Their dedicated email address is BrighouseTD@calderdale.gov.uk
Re-Opening FAQs
Which parts of the town centre are re-opening?
The parts of Commercial Street, Market Street and Briggate where works have been taking place over the past eight months will be re-opened fully to traffic. There will be a new 7.5t weight limit throughout the town centre, zonal parking will be introduced and the new western loop for vehicles will be in place.
Is everything complete in the first phase?
There is still more work to do, but it was important to be able to remove the barriers and re-open streets to traffic as soon as possible. Seating and cycle racks, for example, are still to be installed. Work will also continue in Thornton Square into October.
What about access to the rest of Commercial Street?
We had to make sure to re-open the town centre in a way that didn’t compromise the safety of shoppers, pedestrians and visitors to the town centre or construction staff. Having now carried out work to ensure this, Commercial Street has re-opened to through traffic.
Will there still be access to Bethel Street Car Park?
For now, yes. The eastern end of Bethel Street (between the Bradford Road junction and Park Street) will remain open, as will access to Bethel Street Car Park and the route through to Commercial Street along Park Street. We expect this route, and the Car Park, to close in early December but will be in touch with the businesses impacted ahead of this to confirm access arrangements.
Will I be able to park on the re-opened streets?
Yes, there will be pay & display spaces, disabled spaces and loading bays. All vehicles will only be able to park in these signed bays with enforcement in action within the restricted parking zone which encompasses the entire town centre – from the eastern end of Bethel Street at junction with Huddersfield Road, from the junction of Gooder Street and Commercial Street, the new western traffic loop encompassing Commercial Street, Market Street, Briggate, the full length of Ship Street and Canal Street, and Bradford Road from the junction with Huddersfield road into Hangram Street.
What about on street parking in the rest of the town centre?
In the areas where work is still to take place but remain open for now, the restricted parking zone will also come into force for all vehicles, including blue badge holders. In these areas you will see new signage denoting the restricted parking zone and also see double-yellow lines with double kerb blips to emphasise the new restrictions. The existing parking restrictions in terms of times, days and limits remain unchanged.
I have a Blue Badge. Where can I park?
There are designated disabled bays throughout the town centre and blue badge holders can still park for free in the on street pay & display bays. Parking is not permitted anywhere outside of signed bays including on the double yellow lines with double yellow kerb markings.
What about deliveries to my business?
No vehicles above 7.5t in weight can access the town centre – exemptions will be in place for emergency vehicles, maintenance vehicles and waste vehicles. This will be in place from the eastern end of Bethel Street at junction with Huddersfield Road, from the junction of Gooder Street and Commercial Street, through the full western traffic loop encompassing Commercial Street, Market Street, Briggate, along the full length of Ship Street and Canal Street, Bradford Road from the junction with Huddersfield road into Hangram Street, and Gooder Street towards Ganny Road near the entrance to the bus station (except for buses).
What is happening?
Access for shoppers, visitors and businesses on foot is being maintained wherever work is taking place – the town centre is open for business as normal, even if it will look a bit different.
Esh Construction has their compound in Daisy Street Car Park. This uses the space that had been in use for the temporary market before it moved back to its permanent home. You’ll see a secure boundary and site cabins on the site but the rest of the car park, and all the businesses around the area, will be open as normal.
Why is it happening?
The UK Government awarded our town £19.1 million pounds for very specific reasons – to improve streets and public spaces:
- A more attractive, safer and cleaner town centre so those who shop, visit and enjoy spend longer, spend more and return often
- A better, warmer welcome for those arriving on foot or bicycle, by bus or train, while retaining access for those who need to travel by car
- A brand new market housing the traders of today and the entrepreneurs of tomorrow
- A place to come together providing an event and community space at the heart of the town in the historic Thornton Square
- A focus on the future with investment in apprenticeships, skills and training building on the town’s manufacturing heritage
How to achieve that has been shaped by extensive consultation and engagement over the past six years to ensure it balanced the aim that unlocks the investment – creating a place that is welcoming and pleasant to spend time with a focus on people while continuing to give vital access to the town centre.
The project has been over six years in development and, in that time, there have been consultations, open days and workshops in July 2020, May 2021, October 2022 and May 2023. You can see a full summary of this work, and the engagement, on our website at www.brighousedeal.co.uk/thetimeline
Hundreds of people have been involved as part of these engagement processes, on issues like parking, traffic and access. The range of views has been broad – for example, some have suggested completely pedestrianising the town centre, whilst others have been against any pedestrianisation.
This has been led by the Brighouse Town Deal Board, made up of representatives from businesses and the community who all give their time and energy voluntarily, and to which we have recruited throughout the project.
We have had to balance and incorporate these views into proposals which met the ambition of encouraging more people to be able to safely shop, spend time and spend money in our town.
Substantial changes from the initial proposals have already been made based on feedback from the consultations and engagement exercises, and these are incorporated into the work.
What is happening next?
At the end of September 2026, until spring 2027, works will move to the southern part of the town closing Bethel Street, Park Street, Park Row, Canal Street and Ship Street. Bethel Street car park will be closed for most of this period.
Importantly, access will be maintained for deliveries with the Esh Construction team working closely with business and shop owners to ensure this can happen safely and efficiently.
There will still be access for shoppers, visitors and businesses on foot – the town centre is open for business as normal, even if it will look a bit different.
Where can I park?
The Brighouse BID has produced a map of car parks in the town centre – all of these are within just a few minutes’ walk of any shop or business.
On street parking also remains available, until late September this is available on: Bethel Street, Park Street, Commercial Street (from Park St eastwards), King Street and Bradford Road.
From late September onwards this will be accessible via the new western traffic loop (Commercial Street, Market Street and Briggate), Commercial Street eastwards from Market Street, King Street and Bradford Road.
What about the changes to parking charges in Brighouse?
Decisions on parking charges and restrictions are taken separately by Calderdale Council and are not part of the Town Deal project.
Accessibility for those with mobility issues & blue badge parking
Brighouse town centre remains open. There is a lot of on street parking which remains available within the town centre – these spaces are accessible for cars from Bethel Street and Bradford Road and extend to Park Street, Commercial Street, King Street and Lawson Road. Diversion routes for vehicles wanting to park or drop people off in the town centre are signed and pedestrian access remains in all areas. The on street spaces are still free to park for blue badge holders and without time limit. All our car parks also remain open, including Bethel Street Car Park, which is centrally located and where parking for blue badge holders remains free and without time limit.
We know it is not currently possible to park on the streets in some parts of the town centre while the construction works take place, but we hope for the vast majority all areas will remain accessible – and this was the feedback we had during the extensive engagement exercises, open days and drop-in sessions held in recent months and years.
Clearly, if there are specific issues about access for particular reasons beyond the above, we can always look at anything extra that can be done. Esh Construction are on site daily and access for deliveries for shops and businesses, plus the emergency services, is being maintained at all times, so if there is a specific request then anyone can always contact BrighouseTD@calderdale.gov.uk
How long will the work last?
Esh Construction have split the planned work into three work areas – and the first of these (western loop) will complete by the end of September.
Work will then move to the south of the town centre and then, in spring 2027, work will shift to the north and eastern sides of the town.
When the work is done, will I be able to get into the town centre?
Yes – it’s important to emphasise that the town centre is not being fully pedestrianised.
There will still be vehicle access for the vast majority of the town centre, it will just be a better balance between pedestrians and visitors on foot and those who need to access the shops and businesses by vehicle.
What has already been delivered?
The Town Deal investment is not just about the town centre improvements.
Brighouse’s new market is open. Packed with stalls offering food, drink, crafts and much more, it’s quickly become and important hub for our town.
Delivering the new market building is a key achievement of the Town Deal, as is a focus on skills and apprenticeships for the future as part of the Brighouse Industry 4.0 & Skills Hub.
Brighouse was fine as it was, why change things?
We love Brighouse, and it is performing incredibly strongly as a town centre compared to many others. But we had the opportunity to get nearly £20 million to future-proof our town – this is not money that would have been available for anything else, like filling in potholes, but is completely ring-fenced for the particular aims agreed by the UK Government.
Since that point, Calderdale Council and the Town Deal Board – made up of representatives from businesses and the community who all give their time and energy voluntarily, and to which everyone was able to apply to join, have spent over six years putting together the plans.
We’ve put together a timeline of the work that has been happening since 2019 when the Brighouse Town Deal began, set out where we are now and what’s still to come. See this here >>
You can also see the huge range of consultations, engagement exercises & discussions that have been had about the project over the years here >>
We recognise not everyone agrees with every aspect of the transformation, and we also know the 18 months of construction work will be disruptive, but we are determined to work with everyone to deliver a town centre we can be proud of long into the future.
Have changes been made to the plans since work began?
Following a change in administration at the Council in May 2026 the scheme has been subject to some design change:
- Bradford Road will no longer have a cycle lane and will have 18 parking bays (including 2 disabled bays) instead of the 10 parking bays (including 2 disabled bays) planned.
- Through traffic will continue to be able to use Commercial Street to travel eastbound across the town centre once the scheme is completed.
What are the new traffic restrictions?
At the end of September, the parts of Commercial Street, Market Street and Briggate where works have been taking place will be re-opened fully to traffic, with loading and disabled bays plus on street parking reinstated. The regulations will be implemented throughout the whole town centre including where works haven’t been completed.
These changes will be delivered through a temporary traffic regulation order – a legal measure which allows the changes to come into force ahead of the full, formal Traffic Regulation Order being implemented at the conclusion of the project next year.
Full details of the restrictions are available here: https://www.brighousedeal.co.uk/reopening/
I still have questions…
Please email BrighouseTD@calderdale.gov.uk and the team will reply as soon as possible.
You can also take look at the rest of this website for background to the Town Deal, the six years of consultation and engagement that have happened, and the other projects. You can also visit the Town Deal Board page on the Calderdale Council website which has further links & contact information, and there’s the Calderdale Next Chapter website with details of other projects in Brighouse and across Calderdale, such as the A641 Improvement Scheme.