£5 Million Refurbishment of Morley Town Hall Progresses

Major refurbishment work begins on historic Morley Town Hall

Plans to refurbish Morley Town Hall, a Grade I listed building at the heart of Morley town centre, have advanced with the recent handover of the building to specialist contractors. The £5 million project aims to preserve the building’s historic features while upgrading facilities to better serve the local community.

Preserving heritage with modern upgrades

Morley Town Hall, designed in a neoclassical style by Henry Holtom and George Arthur Fox and constructed in 1895, has long been a prominent civic building. Originally housing council offices, a police station, courtrooms, and community event spaces, it has more recently functioned as an events venue and community hub.

The refurbishment plans, developed following several rounds of public consultation, include:

• Protecting and restoring the historic fabric of the building
• Installing a new café and bar area
• Upgrading the theatrical facilities in the Alexandra Hall
• Replacing the electrical system and improving damp proofing

Planning permission and Listed Building Consent for the works were granted in 2025. Bermar Building Co Ltd, a specialist in listed building projects, was appointed as the delivery partner after a competitive tender process.

Community and cultural benefits

Councillor Jonathan Pryor, Deputy Leader of Leeds City Council and executive member for economy, transport and sustainable development, emphasised the importance of the project: “Local people wanted the Town Hall to be protected, modernised and made sustainable for the future, while remaining a valuable community space.”

Following completion, the Alexandra Hall is expected to host world-class cultural events alongside community activities, reinforcing the Town Hall’s role as a central venue for Morley residents.

Dan Merrick, chair of the Morley Town Deal heritage working group, added: “The Town Hall is being brought back to its Grade I listed grandeur and futureproofed as an important community resource. This will help Morley become recognised for its cultural offer.”

Additional developments and context

• The local landmark statue, ‘The Weaver’, was relocated to Scatcherd Park in December 2025 to allow work to proceed.
• The refurbishment forms part of broader South Leeds regeneration initiatives aimed at enhancing the cultural and heritage value of the area.
• These efforts seek to preserve local heritage while integrating it into a vibrant and modern urban environment.

The project is expected to provide lasting benefits for Morley by fostering community pride and supporting local identity through the preservation and enhancement of an important historic building.