Central Hall in Keighley Set for New Roof

Work is set to start on a new roof for a community hub in Keighley, thanks to £162,000 from the Keighley Towns Fund.

Central Hall, on Alice Street, has been used by community organisations and local businesses, since its renovation in 2010. Originally built as a chapel, the building is now a bright, contemporary space but the roof had been causing concern for years due to water leaking in.

Centre Manager Debbie Atkinson said: “We’ve had significant ongoing issues with the roof, which have impacted on the rest of the building and we are grateful for this funding which means we can completely refurbish it.

“We’re now able to re-insulate, re-felt and completely re-roof the building, which will have such a positive impact, not just in the immediate term but also long-term.”

Councillor Alex Ross-Shaw, Bradford Council’s Portfolio Holder for Regeneration, Planning and Transport, said: “Central Hall has become so much more than just a space to hire. The team there supports people, organisations and businesses in Keighley to thrive, as a community.”

Chairman of Keighley Towns Fund Ian Hayfield said: “Central Hall is a beautiful historic building and it’s at the heart of Keighley. This is just one of the many projects benefiting from funding, which will help drive real social and economic change across Keighley.”

The renovation of the roof is due to start in mid-July and it is planned for Central Hall to stay open throughout the work, which is due to take a couple of months.

About the Towns Fund

The Towns Fund is a Government-funded support programme to boost the economies of towns across the UK. The programme is part of the Government’s Levelling Up plan. Decisions on grants are made by Towns Fund Boards for each town, which are made up of private sector representatives with support from Bradford Council.