Our Town, Our Future
Our Town, Our Future introduces you to the passionate individuals behind Dewsbury Neighbourhood Board. This month we’re talking to Peter Mason.
With more than 20 years of experience in property development, Peter has been heavily involved in shaping projects across Dewsbury. He led the redevelopment of the striking Grade II Listed Black Bull pub and the Fieldhouse residential development. He is also a passionate member of the Arcade Group.
He joined the Board back when it was established in 2020 and is a key player in promoting the redevelopment of town’s heritage buildings and takes an active role in engaging the town’s residents to feed into the regeneration process.
Tell me a bit about you and why you got involved with Dewsbury Neighbourhood Board?
I’ve worked in property development for over 20 years. During the 2008 financial crisis, selling new developments was tough, so I turned to heritage buildings. I bought a large Victorian building in Leeds intending to make it a pub, despite people saying it wouldn’t work. It did work, and we won a number of key architects and regeneration awards.
That experience taught me the importance of investing in historic buildings and creating welcoming spaces. Later, I heard about The Black Bull in Dewsbury - a beautiful but abandoned pub with a bad reputation. With support from the Townscape Heritage Fund, we restored it, and despite criticism, it became a huge success.
Through that project, I got to know Dewsbury well and learned about the Arcade regeneration. I joined the Board because I wanted to be part of revitalising the town.
I also had a personal interest in Fieldhouse, an iconic building opposite the station, once home to Zhivago’s nightclub. While I initially planned a hospitality venue, we developed it into a residential scheme instead, increasing round-the-clock footfall in the heart of Dewsbury.
As a professional and an individual, what do you bring to the board?
As a professional, my experience in property development and passion for Dewsbury is important as I get to offer my expertise and make sure that all the planned projects are connected.
A focus is on making sure the town feels secure and peaceful, investing in the infrastructure to futureproof the town. One significant achievement is that Dewsbury now has fibre broadband throughout, a major advancement compared to many other towns.
I’ve also played an important role in shifting attention toward action rather than prolonged debate during meetings. I think it’s so important to have optimism and confidence. I had a shop in Kirkgate I planned to redevelop and I remember the operator telling me I was mad, but by the time it was refurbished, we had tenants queuing up to take it.
The property development landscape is very difficult and what it needs is collaboration from the private sector. I like to think I’ve got a sense based on my experience of what will work and what are the limits and what’s necessary for perceptions to change.
What does Dewsbury mean to you personally?
Well over the years as I became more involved in various projects in the town and attending meetings, I’ve got quite a lot of friends in Dewsbury now.
The thing about Dewsbury is it’s got something which makes you feel attached to it when you first come into the town.
It has a unique charm - the Victorian architecture, cobbled streets, and history. When I brought a Historic England group to visit, they couldn’t believe they’d never heard of it. Walking through the town and seeing its heritage is always inspiring.
What stands out to you about the regeneration in Dewsbury?
Well over the years as I became more involved in various projects in the town and attending meetings, I’ve got quite a lot of friends in Dewsbury now.
The thing about Dewsbury is it’s got something which makes you feel attached to it when you first come into the town.
It has a unique charm - the Victorian architecture, cobbled streets, and history. When I brought a Historic England group to visit, they couldn’t believe they’d never heard of it. Walking through the town and seeing its heritage is always inspiring.
What does success look like for Dewsbury in the next 5-10 years?
I want it to be a bustling town for people to shop, eat and meet.
As everyone knows, Traditional retail is struggling everywhere due to e-commerce, so we need to accept that and provide new reasons for people to spend time in the town. Dewsbury needs unique, experience-based offerings - shops and stalls, cafes and events that surprise and delight. The Arcade will play a big role in this.
What’s been one of the biggest challenges or misconceptions about Dewsbury that you’d like to help change, and how would you do that?
The belief that nothing will change. People often said to me that The Black Bull would never work. Well, it did work. We sold it to major pub groups and were able to reinvest the money in other key projects in Dewsbury. Another challenge is long standing cultural division. The younger generation doesn’t see the world that way, and we need to build on that to make a successful and inclusive Dewsbury for all.
What project will make the biggest difference to Dewsbury and why?
I think it has to be the Arcade. Kirklees Council has done a fantastic job in purchasing the Arcade and attracting National Lottery funding to support it. Once restored, it will last another century.
With wider Dewsbury suffering, the Arcade was in a worse state than anyone could’ve imagined and they quickly realised it was going to have to be completely refurbished. It’s one of the central corridors in the centre of Dewsbury, joining Marketplace to Corporation street. With 23 shops inside, it will provide a significant space where you can have all sorts of activities and offerings for the public.
The Arcade Group has done a tremendous job in gathering support and putting on events that bring a lot of people into the town centre. It’s a truly unique heritage building, and while restoring old structures is costly, the impact is worth it. I believe it can be a key anchor in the town’s transformation.
What’s your favourite part of Dewsbury?
I love the Minster. I recently learned Patrick Brontë, father of the Brontë sisters, was curate there.
If you had to describe Dewsbury in three words, what would they be?
Shoddy, Mungo and Arcade – I once thought of opening a coffee shop in Dewsbury called Mungo and Shoddy.
What’s your go-to independent spot?
Whenever I’ve got time to eat or have a cup of tea, I go to a little family-run shop called Mann Pasand. It does delicious Indian food and their parathas are great.
What do you love the most about the people of Dewsbury?
Their independent spirit. It’s a particular characteristic of Yorkshire but I think Dewsbury really embodies it.