Strolling around the streets of Ilkley you might have admired renovation and refurbishment projects of some of the town’s buildings. Perhaps a stunning extension or new building projects has caught your eye?
It’s very likely that these new builds, conversions and renovations have been designed by the award-winning Halliday Clark, an architectural practice based in Lower Railway Road, Ilkley.
Set up by David Halliday and Adam Clark in 1993, the business has grown to employ a team of 12 and works extensively across the UK. The practice takes on a vast range of projects including residential, cultural, healthcare, commercial, as well as educational buildings. Their recent proposals to Leeds City Council for a 604-bed, £40m student scheme at Carlton Hill, aims to provide affordable accommodation with student ‘wellbeing’ at its heart.
Moving from initial premises in Bradford and Shipley, David and Adam who are both Ilkley residents, moved the company into refurbished offices at The Cottage at Christchurch. They were later successful in designing and building their own bespoke offices on Lower Railway Road.
Ilkley is an ideal location
Director Emily Dickinson explains why Ilkley is an ideal location for the business: “Being in Ilkley offers so many things, for the people that work here it is a pleasant environment, attracting potential employees. Ilkley offers Halliday Clark a wide variety of business interest and clients that we probably wouldn’t get in other locations. We find that local clients in particular are forward thinking and ambitious, working with us to create innovative solutions to their brief.”
Bringing a new lease of life into old buildings.
Locally the practice has been significant in the development of All Saints Church in Ilkley, where a controversial plan to remove pews produced a fantastic and well received space for the local community to utilise and enjoy.
The expansion of the Ilkley Lawn Tennis & Squash Club, development of Christchurch and Ilkley Cinema are other significant local projects, alongside local clients which include Westville House School and the Ilkley Manor House group.
Emily continues by saying, “It’s not difficult to sell Ilkley to clients or prospective colleagues. Being just a short train ride from Leeds is advantageous, as is working in a heritage town.
Sometimes the complexities of working on heritage projects can create challenges but these are always interesting. The former Rombalds Hotel, for instance, which has now been converted into apartments, required the company to balance the needs of the planning and heritage officers against the aspirations of the client.
It’s so rewarding to bring a new lease of life to these buildings.”
