Left to right: Cllr Thomas Dixon, Dawn Whitely MBE, Alex Bray (Chair, Holmfirth Civic Hall Community Trust), Cllr Andy Wilson, Cllr Glenn Kirkby, Cllr Donna Bellamy, Michael Phillips.
Holme Valley Parish Council and Holmfirth Civic Hall Community Trust are pleased to announce that a new 35-year lease for Holmfirth Civic officially came into effect on 14 May 2026, securing the future of the much-loved community building for years to come.
Holmfirth Civic is owned by Holme Valley Parish Council and operated day-to-day by Holmfirth Civic Hall Community Trust, which manages the building as a community venue hosting events, performances, activities and local groups throughout the year.
The agreement follows many months of collaborative work between councillors, council staff and the Trust. The work was led by Cllr Donna Bellamy, Chair of the Civic Lease Working Group, the Clerk to the Council Jen McIntosh, and Alex Bray, Chair of Holmfirth Civic Hall Community Trust.
Under the terms of the lease, the Parish Council has committed to providing annual funding of £25,000, reviewed regularly over the lifetime of the agreement, alongside support for a planned programme of improvement and repair works to help safeguard the building’s long-term future.
Cllr Glenn Kirkby, Chair of Holme Valley Parish Council, said:
“Holmfirth Civic is one of the Valley’s most important community assets. This agreement gives stability for the future and reflects the strong partnership that exists between the Parish Council and the Trust. We all want to see the Civic continue to thrive for generations to come.”
Cllr Donna Bellamy added:
“This has been a real partnership effort over a long period of time. The Civic means a great deal to many people across the Holme Valley and having been involved in the original 2017 lease, it is extremely positive to see how far the partnership has come.”
Alex Bray, Chair of Holmfirth Civic Hall Community Trust, said:
“We’re delighted to have completed the new lease and to continue building on the relationship between the Trust and the Parish Council. The Civic belongs to the community, and this agreement gives us confidence and security as we plan for the future.”
The lease signing was witnessed by Michael Phillips of Royal Voluntary Service (Holme Valley), whose organisation hosts the weekly Holmfirth Community Lunch Club at the Civic. Holme Valley Parish Council wishes to thank Ramsdens Solicitors LLP, based in Holmfirth, for the support provided in drawing up the lease agreement.
Further details will also be announced soon about an upcoming public consultation on the redevelopment and improvement plans for the Civic, with both the Parish Council and the Civic Hall Community Trust looking forward to hearing the community’s views and helping to shape the next chapter of the building’s future.