Home Appointments & Contracts Dewsbury architectural firm MWA to restore iconic town centre buildings

Dewsbury architectural firm MWA to restore iconic town centre buildings

Martin Walsh Architectural (MWA), the Dewsbury based family owned Architects, has been awarded a contract and has started work to restore two iconic buildings within Dewsbury town centre – 28–30 Northgate and 19 Foundry Street.

Awarded by Dewsbury Townscape Heritage Initiative (THI), which is a Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) regeneration programme delivered in partnership with Kirklees Council, the contract will see MWA play an integral role in preserving and enhancing the buildings within Dewsbury’s conservation area.

As part of the project, 28-30 Northgate, located next to Queensway Arcade and also known as Northgate Chambers, will receive replacement shopfronts and restoration of the building’s iconic features. Existing timber mouldings, stained glass features, pilasters and original detailing will be restored. The name ‘Northgate Chambers’ will also be embossed in stone and reinstated onto the front of the building.

19 Foundry Street will also become mixed-use, with commercial space allocated to the ground floor and two, one-bedroomed apartments to the first floor. The iconic corner turret will also be unveiled with stained glass integrated to create a novel and unique feature.


Daryl Le-Vine, Chartered Architect for MWA, comments: “MWA has been based in Dewsbury for over 40 years and as a team we feel privileged to be playing an instrumental role in bringing the area back to its former glory and preserving and protecting the past.”

“Our understanding of the town’s quality architecture and our experience of heritage sites helped to secure our role in this exciting, transformational project and we are really looking forward to developing some of Dewsbury’s most iconic buildings and street scenes.”

MWA has been an instrumental part of the Dewsbury Townscape Initiative since it was started in 2013 and were responsible for the refurbishment of the town centre’s iconic Northgate House. The family owned Architects designed and managed the external and internal restoration, overseeing structural repairs, designing new shopfronts, repairing and replacing stonework and brining the building back to its original condition.

Cllr Peter McBride, Cabinet Member responsible for regeneration, said: “The Townscape Heritage Initiative is making a significant difference to the town centre. Empty buildings make town centres less appealing places to visit, can encourage anti-social behaviour and discourage investment. We need property owners to step up and take responsibility so Dewsbury can fulfil its destiny as a vibrant living town.”