The Media Centre, Huddersfield

A cluster of buildings near the town’s historic market forms The Media Centre in Huddersfield, the first of which, on Northumberland Street, opened in March 1995 as Kirklees Media Centre. At a time when this area of town was seen to be unattractive to developers or investors, initial capital investment from Kirklees Metropolitan Council allowed the centre to be partially converted and let as office space for the emerging digital and creative sector.

Cultural Industries Kirklees published ‘A Chance to Participate’, which identified the potential for infrastructural resources to support a small network of arts, media and creative companies based in Huddersfield. This innovative concept was initially regarded as high risk, but was taken on by Kirklees Council’s Economic Development Service. Here, robust and diverse management systems were adopted. This in turn generated income from the Arts Lottery Fund and the EU Urban Pilot Programme, through the Creative Town Initiative, to complete the building and introduce the incubator units and business support required to nurture new talent. From here, the foundations for investing in creative businesses and developing the business infrastructure began, and the idea of urban creativity was launched on a national platform.

The centre rapidly reached capacity and had attracted interest from other small companies and graduating students of the University of Huddersfield. Demand for growth was palpable, leading to the £1.3million development on Lord Street. In 2001, this separate extension opened, already 80% pre-let with a mixture of designed office space. The Mechanics Institute, a grade II Listed building on the site that had remained derelict for over 10 years, was developed by Places for People group in 2002 to accommodate Creative Lofts, which provide live-work spaces for the creative industries sector and are managed by The Media Centre.

The web design and development company, Interactive Solutions, has been based here from the very beginning. “It was a happy coincidence that The Media Centre was just opening as our business was being formed. We were based near Cheltenham at the time, but the availability of a purpose designed centre, with flexible accommodation was one factor that prompted us to move north, together with Huddersfield's strategic position at the centre of the "golden triangle" of Leeds, Manchester and Sheffield. Those initial advantages haven't really changed and as the Media Centre has expanded - we find ourselves in the midst of an even larger network of complementary businesses and in no rush to leave," Dayn Wilkins, Managing Director, Interactive Solutions.

But it didn’t stop there. The acclaimed £5 million Friendly Street building, the latest addition to The Media Centre, is referred to by many as one of the most environmentally sustainable buildings in the region. Opened in 2007 by the Queen, the building makes use of a solar chimney, low energy lighting, photo voltaic cells and high specification insulation to minimise carbon emissions. Further enhancement of the street running through The Media Centre quarter will transform the linking space into an area for people to use and for public events.

“With the growth in on-site capacity, and increasing services for non-resident clients, the organisation has achieved its long term goal of transition from grant dependency to full economic stability. This is a major step in guaranteeing service to creative business,” says Clare Danek, Programme and Marketing Manager, The Media Centre.

With the centre boasting 117 creative businesses on site with a combined turnover of more than £11 million, 122 workspaces, 21 live-work spaces, 11 incubator desks and support, five conference rooms, Café Ollo and an 8MB dedicated Ether Stream internet connection; it is clear that The Media Centre has had a very positive economic impact on Huddersfield and that it will be used as an inspirational model for similar organisations.