Presentation Brochure

CITY CENTRE REGENERATION NEWS UPDATE

CREATING A CITY FOR TOMORROW

There has been a lot of regeneration work underway in various sections of Wakefield city over the last decade and this is expected to increase this year.

This booklet is an update for residents and businesses about the status of the various projects and masterplans.

A masterplan is a road map for future growth and development of an area to meet changing demand. Wakefield Council has developed masterplans for various sections of the city. Even though they are long-term plans, they are designed to be flexible and adaptable for future needs.

Current masterplans are in place for the Waterfront (2004), Merchant Gate (2005), and Civic Quarter (2012), and the new Wakefield city centre (2022) masterplan now captures all these plans together in one document and

details how the city centre as a whole will be reshaped over the next 20 years.

Some projects have been completed, others are in the pipeline while some have been reviewed and then redesigned or rethought as we respond to changing circumstances, such as change in market demand and needs, and rising construction costs due to inflation and deliverability.

This booklet provides a comprehensive overview of what’s happening in Wakefield city.

Mark Lynam Corporate Director Regeneration, Economic Growth and Property

March 2023

TIMELINE

Regeneration takes time. Projects can be delivered over the short, medium or long term which means some can take a couple of years to deliver whilst others can take over a decade from starting a project plan to actual delivery of the scheme.

Here is a snapshot of how the landscape of Wakefield city centre is evolving to become a City of the Future.

WAKEFIELD WATERFRONT REGENERATION

2007–2009 New offices, workspace and homes completed

2008–2011 The Hepworth Wakefield officially opened

2011 New bridge access to Hepworth Gallery

2012 Ruddy Duck Pub opens

2013 The Calder Gallery opened (temp arts space in a mill building)

2015 Selective demolition of unsafe buildings

2019 Tileyard North Phase 1 works start

2020 Hepworth Garden opens

2023 Tileyard North Phase 1 opens

2023 Tileyard North Phase 2 starts

2024 Tileyard North Phase 2 completes

2005 MERCHANT GATE MASTERPLAN APPROVED

2006 Demolition / site clearance

2007 Works start

2010 Burgage Square with housing and offices completed

2010 Merchant Gate Multi-storey Car Park completed

2011–2012 Changes to road network associated with Mulberry Way / Westgate Station / Merchant Gate development

2012 Wakefield One Council offices completed

2013 Wakefield Westgate Railway Station completed

2018 2020 Strata Homes development

2022 CAPA College completed

2023 Old Westgate Station – acquired for development

CIVIC QUARTER MASTERPLAN APPROVED

2014 Old Crown Court brought from private owner, saved from further deterioration

2017 Wakefield Town Hall refurbished

2017–2020 Old Crown Court restoration work to keep the building safe and weather proof

2017 College buys old West Yorkshire History Centre to expand campus

2018 Coronation Gardens and Cenotaph Public Square opened

2019 Council buys old police station

2021 Wakefield College University building open

2023 Work starts on new residential development occupying the former Police Station, Rishworth Street and Gills Yard car parks

WAKEFIELD CITY CENTRE MASTERPLAN APPROVED

2022

2022

Site clearance starts for Kirkgate Innovative Neighbourhood Gateway

Property purchases start for the new Cathedral Square events space

2022 Cabinet approves sale of Chantry House for social housing

2022

2023

Pemberton House purchased to protect city heritage and linked to future development of old Westgate station site

Work starts to renovate former BHS for relocation of Wakefield Library and Museum

2023 Old Westgate Railway station acquired for development

2023

Renovations start at former Market Hall for new Wakefield Exchange

2023 City Sculpture Trail installed

2023 Urban greening scheme being developed for city centre

KIRKGATE INNOVATIVE NEIGHBOURHOOD GATEWAY (KING)

Redevelopment of this area will provide about 87 contemporary homes right on the doorstep of the city centre and within an easy stroll of shopping, transport and entertainment.

After the demolition of the former ABC cinema is complete, detailed surveys will be conducted across the site, businesses re-located and demolition of other properties will start.

Some properties will not be taken down as they are to become part of the proposed residential development. New public realm, parking, estate roads, greenspace and access roads will also be created.

Indicative timeline

Construction is scheduled to start in 2025. However, dates may change. Funding for this project expires in 2026. Sign-up for our free Regeneration News Updates at wakefieldfirst.com/regenupdates for the latest developments or catch-up via the project web page wakefield.gov.uk/regeneration.

All acquisitions completed

Tender for developer

Pre-planning design

Planning application

Detailed designs

Other demolition, enabling works, construction

2023 2024 2025 2026

RUTLAND MILLS

The former derelict mills next to The Hepworth Wakefield are being regenerated – in two phases –into Tileyard North, a creative industries destination on Wakefield’s Waterfront.

City & Provincial Properties has redeveloped these Grade II listed mill buildings into what will form a 135,000 sq ft hub, the UK’s largest creative community outside of London.

Phase 1 saw four mill buildings and the courtyard open in early 2023, with the final building in this phase due to be complete in 2024.

Phase 2 is now underway to convert the remaining buildings and create space for further dynamic businesses and opportunities - with one building being rebuilt and the other restored and re-purposed.

WESTGATE HERITAGE ACTION ZONE

This project, funded by the Council and Historic England, has awarded grants for the renovation of buildings of historic and architectural significance in Westgate –the original gateway to the city.

During restoration, original structures were found dating back to 1590.

The sites/properties renovated are:

Buildings

109a to d Westgate comprising 4 properties to the rear of the Elephant and Castle Public House

111-113 Westgate CDC and Lou’la Belles Boutique

115a-b Westgate Internal conversion and frontage improvements

75 to 83 Westgate at Unity Hall

8 Cheapside Bolas House, Major Recruitments

84 Westgate Nocturno Night Club

After Dark Night Club, 65 Westgate

Bars, lounge and art studios at 51-55 Westgate

Yards

Carter Street and Cheapside resurfacing work

Thompsons yard

The yard leading to Barstow Square

Woolpacks yard

Catterall solicitors, 18 Kings Street Chambers

David Brown Engraving, 115 Westgate

Elephant and Castle Public House, 109 Westgate

First Choice Recruitment & Newstand Newsagents, 22 Silver Street

Icon Nightclub, 50-52 Westgate

Rooster King and the Pie Shop, 70 Westgate

The Black Swan, 6 to 8 Silver Street

Westgate Unitarian Chapel

PROJECTS IN THE PIPELINE

BREAD STREET /CATHEDRAL SQUARE

There are two parts to this project. A large outdoor event space opposite the Cathedral is a major component of the project. In order to achieve this, the former Ladbrokes building and the Boots Opticians building next door will have to be demolished.

The Ladbrokes building (9-11 Northgate) has been purchased and talks are continuing with the owner of the building next door (1-3 Northgate). The Council will consider seeking legal powers to compulsory purchase if a sale cannot be agreed.

Once both buildings are in Council ownership, they will be demolished in 2024/25 and that will also open what was an early 20th century view of the Cathedral from Marygate through Bread Street.

Currently, Bread Street is a back street with an unattractive view. To help property owners improve their facades, the council is offering grants of up to £12,000. Wheelie bins will be relocated and the street will be repaved.

Meanwhile, work is underway designing the proposed outdoor event space.

This project is currently scheduled for completion in spring 2026. However, dates may change. Funding for this project expires in 2026. Sign-up for our free Regeneration News Updates at wakefieldfirst.com/regenupdates for the latest developments or catch-up via the project web page wakefield.gov.uk/regeneration.

Pre-planning design

Planning application

Detailed designs

Demolition, enabling works, construction

OLD WESTGATE STATION

The sale of this site has been agreed with Network Rail.

The site is intended for a hotel and a separate office building. However, in the current economic climate, the hotel is the preferred development, so the site will be phased to enable the offices to be built at a later date.

Later in 2023, the council will invite developers to submit their proposals for the site, which will be assessed and a decision taken in 2024.

New urban green space and access routes will be part of the project.

Indicative timeline

This project is currently scheduled for completion in spring 2026. However, dates may change. Funding for this project expires in 2026. Sign-up for our free Regeneration News Updates at wakefieldfirst.com/regenupdates for the latest developments or catch-up via the project web page wakefield.gov.uk/regeneration.

2023 2024 2025 2026

Acquisition

Ground surveys

Pre-planning design

Planning application

Detailed designs

Demolition, enabling works, construction

WAKEFIELD LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

Wakefield’s Library and Museum will be relocated into the transformed former BHS building in the city centre.

The property has already been purchased. Work is underway to remove asbestos from the building and design work is progressing on the internal library and museum spaces.

Planning permission is expected to be submitted in 2023 with construction expected in 2024 and opening in 2025.

Sign-up for our free Regeneration News Updates at wakefieldfirst.com/regenupdates for the latest developments or catch-up via search Wakefield Library and Museum at wakefield.gov.uk

WAKEFIELD EXCHANGE

Wakefield Exchange, a new creative hub to be located in the former Market Hall, is to become home to major events, exhibitions, an independent food and drink offer and creative businesses when it opens in 2024.

The new venue, which is one of the flagship projects outlined in the Wakefield City Centre Masterplan, will host up to four major events a year and bring 300,000 people into the city.

That additional footfall into the city will support the vibrant food and restaurant sector and the wider retail offer.

Within the building, more than 100 local creative businesses are expected to be supported through the creative industries workspace being created. They will also have access to workspaces, exhibition spaces, and wider resources to develop their businesses.

Renovation of Wakefield Exchange started in March and is expected to be completed in May 2024.

WAKEFIELD CIVIC QUARTER

Planning permission has been granted for the proposed regeneration of the Wakefield Civic Quarter by developers Rushbond PLC. The approved scheme includes the creation of 63 new homes of a mix of sympathetically converted apartments alongside new, contemporary family homes.

The Old Police Station on Wood Street, originally built in the early 1900’s, is set to contain 33 fantastic one, two and three bed apartments over four-storeys of accommodation with further character residential accommodation to be created in the adjacent, former Superintendent’s house known as 42 Wood Street.

The scheme will also provide a further 30 new build family homes on the Rishworth Street Car Park site, in three terraces; Gills Mews, Gills Place and Gills Yard. There will be 12 contemporary, three-storey, three-bedroom family homes at Gills Mews, featuring off-street parking and attractive third-floor, private terraces. Gills Place will comprise eight stylish, two-storey, three-bedroom family homes with allocated parking and finally, an additional nine two-storey, threebedroom family homes with carefully considered, landscaped, communal gardens and associated parking at Gills Yard.

Rushbond PLC look forward to welcoming prospective enquirers to their marketing suite in mid-2024 with the proposed release of units for sale across 2024/2025.

CHANTRY HOUSE, KIRKGATE

This is the first site in Kirkgate identified for residential development as part of the Masterplan strategy to develop new city centre neighbourhoods.

The site was acquired in 2020 with demolition and temporary greening completed in Summer 2021.

The Council entered into agreement with WDH to build affordable housing. Planning application is expected in Spring 2023, and, subject to approval, construction is expected to start in either late 2023 or early 2024. It is expected to complete within two years.

WAKEFIELD CITY CENTRE TRANSPORT IMPROVEMENTS

Work continues to develop our plans to make Wakefield city centre better for walking, cycling, and using public transport. These improvements, however, will be delivered over a longer period of time while further funding is sought in the current economic climate.

The West Yorkshire Combined Authority has been working with its local authority partners, including Wakefield Council, to minimise disruption and ensure no part of the region is unfairly impacted. The scheme will look at developing options to reduce traffic, enhance cycling and walking routes, and improve operating conditions for buses.

Further engagement with key stakeholders and the public will take place as the scheme develops.

Options include:

A cycle route between Wakefield Kirkgate railway station to the city centre and Wakefield Westgate railway station.

Improved access to Wakefield bus station for buses coming from the north.

Better public space on Wood Street.

Improved pedestrian links from the east into the city centre.

Better enforcement of restrictions on some key city centre roads.

Development of plans to improve Ings Road is in progress.

Wakey wakey Wakefield.

lt’s time to explore a new kind of neighbourhood.

Beautifully finished new homes. Civic Quarter. A new residential development in Wakefield City Centre.

For more information visit civicquarter.co.uk

USEFUL LINKS:

Regeneration News Updates: wakefieldfirst.com/regenupdates

Wakefield Regeneration projects: wakefield.gov.uk/regeneration

https://www. wakefieldfirst.com /regenupdates

Wakefield Library and Museum: Enter this exact phrase in Google: “Wakefield Library and Museum” site:wakefield.gov.uk

Transforming Cities – Wakefield city centre: Enter this exact phrase in Google: “Transforming Cities” Site:wakefield.gov.uk

https://www.wakefield .gov.uk/regeneration

Tileyard North: tileyardnorth.co.uk cpp-plc.co.uk/development/rutland-rutland-mills

Civic Quarter: civicquarter.co.uk

https://www.wakefield. gov.uk/libraries-andlocal-history/wakefieldlibrary-and-museum-anew-chapter

Regeneration Team

Wakefield Council

Wakefield One, PO Box 700 Burton Street, Wakefield WF1 2EB

majorprojects@wakefield.gov.uk Tel: 0345 8 506 506