The Arcade, Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, WF13

THE ARCADE, DEWSBURY - RETAIL UNITS, ARTIST STUDIOS AND WORKSPACE TO LET

A rare opportunity to take space in a Grade II listed Victorian shopping arcade in the heart of Dewsbury town centre, fully restored and reopening in September 2026 as the first community-owned shopping arcade in the country.

Built in 1899 to a design by Albert Holmes Kirk, The Arcade was one of the town's best-loved buildings until it closed in 2016. Following a £4.5m National Lottery Heritage Fund grant to Kirklees Council, the building has undergone a comprehensive restoration and will reopen under a long lease held by The Arcade Group Dewsbury Ltd, a community benefit society with over 200 local shareholder members.

The result is 28 units over three floors offering affordable, flexible and genuinely well-supported space for independent retailers, makers, artists, therapists, service businesses and online sellers looking for their first physical presence.

THE ACCOMMODATION

- 16 small shop units within the arcade walkway, from approximately 81 sq ft (7.5 sq m) to 215 sq ft (20 sq m), with the potential to combine adjoining units to create larger shops
- 4 larger two-storey "bookend" units fronting Market Place and Corporation Street, from approximately 318 sq ft (29.5 sq m) to 457 sq ft (42.5 sq m) per floor, with prominent street frontage and return display windows
- 8 artist studios at first floor level, from approximately 124 sq ft (11.5 sq m) to 221 sq ft (20.5 sq m), each with its own individual access, suited to artists, makers, therapists and small creative businesses
- Upper floor sales, office and workshop suites from approximately 366 sq ft (34 sq m) to 1,211 sq ft (112.5 sq m), suitable for offices, studios, treatment suites, community uses and larger retail or showroom requirements
- A dedicated 124 sq m events room at second floor level (60 person capacity, lift served), used for the Arcade's own events programme and available for tenants to hire

The arcade walkway has been relaid so that every ground floor shop is level and accessible.

INDICATIVE RENTS AND OCCUPANCY COSTS

All figures are per annum, exclusive of VAT. The service charge is estimated for year one and is subject to annual reconciliation.

Artist studios: rent from £990 to £1,765 per annum, plus service charge of £1,591 to £2,836 per annum. Total occupancy cost from approximately £2,581 to £4,601 per annum, equivalent to around £50 to £88 per week.

Arcade shop units: rent from £1,875 to £5,000 per annum, plus service charge of £1,038 to £2,767 per annum. Total occupancy cost from approximately £2,913 to £7,767 per annum, equivalent to around £56 to £149 per week. A typical arcade shop works out at around £100 per week all-in.

Combined arcade units (20/22, approximately 404 sq ft / 37.5 sq m): £9,375 per annum rent plus £4,358 service charge.

Street-facing bookend units (ground floor): rent from £6,343 to £9,138 per annum, plus service charge of £2,600 to £2,864 per annum, with the upper floors of the same buildings available separately or in combination.

Upper floor sales, office and workshop suites: total occupancy cost from approximately £4,543 to £13,114 per annum depending on size and floor. Terms on the largest suites are negotiable.

Rent and service charge are payable monthly in advance by direct debit. A full schedule of units, areas, rents and service charges is available from the agent on request.

BUSINESS RATES

Most of the smaller shop units and studios are expected to fall below the threshold for 100% Small Business Rate Relief, meaning that qualifying occupiers should have no rates to pay. The larger street-facing units and upper floor suites will be separately assessed. Interested parties are advised to make their own enquiries of Kirklees Council.

LOCATION

The Arcade sits at the centre of Dewsbury town centre, linking Market Place with Corporation Street, immediately adjacent to the well-used Dewsbury Market, which is itself being rebuilt as a covered market and food hall due to open in 2027.

Dewsbury is the sixth largest town in West Yorkshire, sitting near the centre of the county's ring of larger cities and towns: approximately 5 miles east of Wakefield, 7 miles from Huddersfield, 8 miles from Leeds, 9 miles from Bradford and 10 miles from Halifax.

- Rail: approximately a 6 minute walk to Dewsbury Railway Station, which has benefited from a major gateway redesign and is due for TransPennine Route Upgrade works reducing journey times to Leeds to around 10 minutes
- Bus: approximately a 5 minute walk to Dewsbury Bus Station, with a new bus station planned as part of the town's Local Plan
- Car: easily reached from the M1, M62, A638 and A644, with six town centre car parks all within approximately a 5 minute walk
- Cycle: Sustrans National Cycle Route 69 runs through the centre of Dewsbury

The Arcade is the first completed project in Kirklees Council's ten year, £80m Dewsbury Blueprint investment programme, which includes the market redevelopment, new green space, improved security and the relocated Kirklees College and Town Hall, with its 700 seat concert hall, close by.

WHY THE ARCADE

This is not simply space to rent. Tenants at The Arcade join a co-operative trading community with an active landlord committed to driving footfall to the building:

- A rolling programme of events, including the annual Food Festival and the bi-annual WOVEN festival in the town
- A dedicated events space available for tenant hire, ideal for launches, workshops and demonstrations
- Marketing and PR support, features on the Arcade website, mailouts to a growing customer database and exposure across the Arcade's social media channels
- A landlord whose rents are set to cover costs rather than maximise profit
- The backing of over 200 local shareholder members, Kirklees Council, the Architectural Heritage Fund, Co-operatives UK and The National Lottery Heritage Fund

SPECIFICATION AND SERVICES

- Fully restored glazed roof, ironwork and shopfronts under the supervision of the conservation team
- Lift access to upper floors
- Accessible WC facilities
- 1G Ethernet connectivity available
- Secure gating to the arcade outside trading hours
- Level, newly relaid walkway throughout the ground floor
- Units handed over in shell/as existing condition ready for tenant fit out in accordance with the Arcade Fit-Out Guide

TERMS

Lease: flexible terms available, contracted outside the security of tenure provisions of sections 24 to 28 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954, Part II. A mutual break option on the first anniversary of the term is offered, giving occupiers genuine flexibility while they establish.

Rent commencement: a rent free fitting out period is available, to be agreed. Service charge is payable from the access date.

Service charge: tenants pay a weighted proportion of the cost of running and insuring the building, reconciled annually.

Insurance: the landlord insures the building and recovers a fair proportion through the service charge. Tenants must hold public liability cover of not less than £10 million and provide evidence prior to access.

Rent review: on the fifth anniversary of the term commencement date, indexed to CPI.

VAT: the property is elected for VAT and all sums are exclusive of VAT, which is payable in addition. Occupiers who are not VAT registered should factor this into their appraisal.

Deposit: a rent deposit equivalent to one month's rent is payable on signing of Heads of Terms.

Legal costs: each party is responsible for its own legal costs.

Use and tenant mix: The Arcade is seeking independent occupiers selling goods and services worth making a special trip for. In line with the landlord's published Tenant Recruitment Policy, takeaways, vape shops and nail bars will not be considered. All lettings are subject to the landlord's approval of the proposed use, references and identification checks, and final approval of the landlord's Board.

AVAILABILITY AND TIMING

The Arcade opens in September 2026 and units are letting quickly, with a number of shops, studios and both ground floor bookend units already committed to incoming tenants including a craft shop, an opticians, a cake cafe, a Pokemon and trading card retailer, a perfumier and an artist's studio.

Remaining availability at the time of listing includes arcade shop units, artist studios, street-facing bookend units and upper floor office and workshop suites. Availability changes regularly, so please contact the agent to confirm current position and to reserve a unit.

VIEWINGS AND APPLICATIONS

Viewings are strictly by appointment through the sole letting agent. A full letting brochure, unit schedule, floor plans, 360 degree virtual tours of the end units and individual leasing sheets are available on request.

Applicants will be asked to complete a short application setting out the proposed business and use, which is considered by the landlord's board against its Tenant Recruitment Policy. Units can be reserved ahead of Heads of Terms.

Early enquiries and viewings are strongly recommended.

MISREPRESENTATION

These particulars are believed to be correct but their accuracy is not guaranteed and they do not form part of any contract. All areas are approximate and given for identification purposes only. All rents and service charges are quoted exclusive of VAT, business rates and any other outgoings. Nothing in these particulars constitutes an offer or a representation as to the profitability of the premises or the tenant mix of the centre. Prospective tenants must satisfy themselves as to the suitability of the premises for their intended use and should obtain independent legal, planning and financial advice. Any letting is subject to contract, references, satisfactory identification checks and the approval of the landlord's Board.