Huddersfield was one of the first towns in the region to be designated a renaissance town in 2001.

The vision for Huddersfield, developed with advisors David Lock Associates, proposes a plan for improvements to public areas. The vision is of a town that people can move through easily, contains high-quality buildings, and is a lively and busy place.

The Strategic Development Framework suggested these major projects:

• St George’s Square: improvement to the quality of paving and a better layout.
• St George’s Warehouse: changing the old mill building in the town centre into a mixture of uses that could include new shops and apartments.
• St George’s Connections: a walking link from the warehouse to St George’s Square and the railway station.
• St Peter’s Gardens: development of an oasis of green space.
• Queensgate 2: improvement to the library and Queensgate market, and the possibility of adding some new uses.
• Waterfront Quarter: a unique gateway with water frontage onto Huddersfield Narrow Canal and the River Colne. To include offices, residential and leisure use.

Yorkshire Forward expects to invest around £6m in the Huddersfield renaissance programme.