Fresh new look planned for major Brighouse shopping arcade
Brighouse’s Wellington Arcade is set to get new cladding
It’s one of Brighouse’s most prominent commercial buildings – but is ready for a makeover to bring its appearance up-to-date.
ADW Holdings Ltd has applied to Calderdale Council seeking permission for the external refurbishment and and over-cladding of Brighouse’s Wellington Arcade.
Built in the 1970s, the arcade, which is off Commercial Street and Briggate, was built in the Brutalist style and the makeover will soften its appearance and be in sympathy with more recent improvements to the town.
According to supporting papers by Rose Consulting, agents for the applicant, the design has been informed by the palette of materials used on the smart new Brighouse Open Market.
This will create a cohesive relationship between the two developments, reinforcing a modern identity for the town centre, if planners agree.
“The proposal will deliver a significant enhancement to the appearance of Wellington Arcade and will make a positive contribution to the wider character of Brighouse town centre.
“Given its prominent location, the building is highly visible from several important approaches into the town, including Halifax Road, Gooder Street, Briggate and routes from Rastrick.
“The refurbishment will therefore improve key public views and strengthen first impressions for visitors arriving in the town centre,” say the agents.
The introduction of contemporary materials, improved proportions and refined detailing will replace the current dated Brutalist appearance with “an attractive and cohesive architectural composition that reflects the ongoing regeneration of Brighouse,” argues the supporting statement.
The proposals relate solely to the external appearance of the existing shopping centre and office building – no alterations are proposed to the established retail or office uses, nor are there any changes to the building footprint or overall scale, say the agents.
Constructed during the 1970s, the development comprises an open-air shopping arcade with retail units at ground floor, storage at first floor and an office building.
Whilst functional, the building now appears dated and visually tired, according to the papers.
To give it a fresh, contemporary look, the existing columns and exposed blockwork walls will be over clad using an ashlar stone-effect tile – this will significantly soften the existing “utilitarian” appearance.
The separate office block will be clad in dark grey vertical aluminium panels with Ashlar tile cladding at ground floor level.
To the upper sections of the retail frontage and the arcade, a matt gold perforated aluminium cladding system is proposed, according to the papers.
This feature provides visual interest and architectural identity while allowing signage to be subtly integrated within the cladding, argues the supporting statements.
Along the Briggate and Commercial Street frontages, the cladding will incorporate a regular saw-tooth profile.
This introduces rhythm and articulation to the elevations, breaking down the scale of the existing facade and providing a distinctive contemporary character that “responds positively to its prominent town centre setting,” say the papers.
The application, number 26/00660/FUL, and supporting papers, can be viewed on the council’s Planning Portal.