Horsforth Community Centre Named by Residents at 3 The Green

Key Points

• Horsforth residents have chosen Horsforth Community Centre as the official name for a new multi‑use community hub at 3 The Green.
• The building, next to Horsforth Museum at The Green, is being transformed into a venue for events, meetings, activities and community groups.
• Work to convert the former premises into a community hub began in July 2024.
• Before Christmas 2025, Horsforth Town Council invited local residents to vote on three proposed names for the building.
• The three shortlisted options were: Horsforth Community Centre, 3 The Green Community Centre and The Horsforth Green Centre.
• Horsforth Town Council announced this week that Horsforth Community Centre received the most votes and will be the building’s official name.
• The opening of Horsforth Community Centre is scheduled for April 2026.
• The project is financially supported in part through a rise in the local precept, with residents facing an approximate 3.8% increase.
• For a Band D property in Horsforth, the precept change represents an additional 77p per year to help cover the hub’s costs, including the development of the new facility.
• The scheme is part of a wider effort by Horsforth Town Council to provide more local space for community activities, groups and services within the town.

Horsforth Times (Horsforth Times) January 20, 2026 – A new multi‑use community hub being created at 3 The Green in Horsforth has officially been named Horsforth Community Centre, after residents voted for the title in a consultation run by Horsforth Town Council ahead of the building’s planned opening in April 2026.

How did Horsforth residents choose the name for the new hub?

Ahead of the building’s transformation into a community hub, Horsforth Town Council drew up a shortlist of three possible names and put them to the public for a vote before Christmas, allowing residents to choose how the new facility would be identified in the town. According to the council’s announcement this week, Horsforth Community Centre received the most support, beating 3 The Green Community Centre and The Horsforth Green Centre in the ballot of local people.

As reported by local community news outlet West Leeds Dispatch, councillors had previously confirmed that the building would serve as a dedicated space for events, meetings, activities and community groups, and they framed the naming exercise as an opportunity for residents to have a direct say in the project’s identity. In that earlier coverage, the publication highlighted that the renamed hub would sit at the heart of civic and voluntary life in Horsforth, making the choice of name symbolically important for those who live and work nearby.

What work has been carried out at 3 The Green so far?

Work to convert the premises at 3 The Green into a multi‑use community hub began in July last year, with contractors brought in by Horsforth Town Council to remodel the building to suit a broad range of activities. The property stands next to Horsforth Museum, placing the new centre in a prominent position within the town’s historic core and creating scope for joint activities or complementary programming between the museum and the hub.

The refurbishment has focused on creating flexible internal spaces that can host meetings, classes, groups and public events, as well as ensuring that the building is suitable for regular community use in terms of access and facilities. Council reports and local coverage have indicated that, once complete, the hub will be able to host anything from small community group sessions and coffee mornings to larger gatherings and public meetings, reflecting the council’s ambition to maximise use of the site for residents of all ages.

When will Horsforth Community Centre open and what will it offer?

Horsforth Town Council has stated that the new Horsforth Community Centre is scheduled to open in April 2026, following completion of refurbishment works and internal fit‑out at 3 The Green. The timetable is intended to give sufficient time to finalise the building’s layout, install equipment and put in place any necessary health and safety or accessibility measures before welcoming the public.

Once open, the centre is expected to provide space for a variety of uses, including community group meetings, local classes, small‑scale cultural activities and civic events organised either by the town council or by voluntary and community organisations. In line with earlier public statements, the authority has indicated that the building is being designed as a multi‑use venue so that different groups can book rooms or areas at various times of day and week, with the goal of keeping the facility active and well‑used throughout the year.

How is the project being funded and what does the precept rise mean for residents?

In coverage last October, West Leeds Dispatch reported that Horsforth residents would face an approximate 3.8 per cent rise in the town council precept, equivalent to an extra 77 pence per year for a Band D property, to help finance work on the new community hub at 3 The Green. As reported at the time by the West Leeds Dispatch journalist, the modest increase was presented as part of the financial package required to meet the costs associated with the new facility, alongside other budgetary pressures and commitments.

Council discussions referenced in that reporting indicated that members saw the precept change as a way to support a long‑term community asset that will serve residents across different age groups and interests, rather than a short‑term or one‑off project. While some households will note any rise in charges, the figure of 77 pence a year for Band D was characterised by councillors as a relatively small additional contribution designed to underpin a resource intended to benefit the wider town.

Why is the location next to Horsforth Museum significant for the community?

The new Horsforth Community Centre is based in the building immediately next to Horsforth Museum at The Green, placing it at the centre of a cluster of civic and heritage venues in the town. The proximity offers potential for joint programmes and shared events, such as heritage talks, exhibitions or community history projects that make use of both the museum’s collections and the flexible spaces within the community centre.

Local heritage and community advocates have long pointed to The Green as a focal point for Horsforth’s identity, and the addition of a dedicated community facility beside the museum is expected to strengthen that role. The combination of museum and community centre creates a hub where residents can both explore local history and take part in present‑day activities, reinforcing links between Horsforth’s past and its evolving community life.

What were the alternative names and how close was the decision?

Before announcing the result, Horsforth Town Council had invited residents to choose between three potential names: Horsforth Community Centre, 3 The Green Community Centre and The Horsforth Green Centre. These options reflected different emphases, with one focusing on the town’s name, another highlighting the building’s address and the third referencing its position on The Green, a key local landmark.

While the council has confirmed that Horsforth Community Centre emerged as the winning option, it has not publicised a detailed breakdown of voting figures in its brief announcement. However, by highlighting all three names in its communication, the authority acknowledged that each had attracted some support and that residents had engaged with the decision over how the new facility should be known within the town.

How does this project fit into Horsforth’s wider community priorities?

The creation and naming of Horsforth Community Centre form part of a broader effort by Horsforth Town Council to invest in local spaces that support community cohesion and participation. In discussions picked up by local media, councillors have previously spoken about the importance of having accessible, affordable venues for groups, charities and residents to meet, particularly at a time when other public and commercial spaces can be limited or costly.