Brighouse Town Centre Improvements

Creating an even better Brighouse by delivering…

> 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 and improving signage to car parks on the edge of the town centre

> A place to come together providing an event and community space at the heart of the town in the historic Thornton Square

Visitors to Brighouse will be encouraged to spend longer and spend more by creating a more welcoming, attractive and healthy town centre.

The public realm projects ensure the focus in the town centre is on people rather than vehicles – balancing the need to be able to park easily with the need to decrease traffic levels, improve the air quality and provide a safe environment where pedestrians have priority so they can shop, visit and enjoy Brighouse.

Proposals have been subject to extensive consultation, discussions and research and include pedestrianising the central sections of Commercial Street and Bethel Street between Market Street and Park Street.

This would create an eastern zone for vehicles – entering on Bethel Street and exiting on Lawson Road, and a western zone – entering on Commercial Street and exiting on Briggate, ensuring continued access but stopping the town centre being used as a rat-run for through traffic.

Vehicles would continue to be able to drop-off and pick-up, accessible disabled parking would be provided, and deliveries would continue to be possible with designated loading bays, but the focus on people aims to make the town centre much more attractive for shoppers and visitors.

Wide footways, street planting and seating will be provided, and the look of the roads would be made more attractive and pedestrian-focused through the use of stone and granite rather than just tarmac.

Investment in changing this to make them more accessible and gateways to the town centre will be key to The Brighouse Deal, as will ensuring it is easier and safer to arrive in the town by other modes of transport with more cycle parking, clearer access to and from the bus and railway stations, and improving walking routes to encourage greener, more sustainable options.