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Wakefield | General developments

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#1 ·
Noticed looking at this forum that surprisingly there is no thread for all of the projects happening in Wakefield so here it is especially as I thought it is big enough to warrent such a thing.

Noticed today as I was in Wakefield that a new shopping centre called Trinity Walk is currently under construction to the north of the city centre and it has prelets to the likes of Debenhams, Sainsburys, Next, New Look and H&M as well as a new market hall. Surely it would be a good thing to have such a development to revitalise Wakefields retail offer and does anyone know when this will open? I guess it will also act as a counterweight to the existing Ridings Centre (which I believe has been planned to be expanded) and would revitalise the streets in between. Just a word of caution though is I hope that is not a surface level car park I can see in the picture below. Here is some more information on it and a couple of renders from: http://bwbconsulting.com/Trinity_Wakefield.htm





BWB have been retained by Simons Developments as Structural Engineer for the prestigious redevelopment of the old market quarter of Wakefield Town Centre.

The scheme comprises circa 500,000 sq ft of retail space over three floors configured around a central ´mall´ type pedestrian walkway. The scheme also includes 90 residential apartments located above the retail space, a new library for the local authority, a hotel and leisure unit and 960 associated car parking spaces.

A substantial demolition and site clearance exercise is required to allow the re-development. A section of Marsh Way, a main arterial route through the town centre, is to be relocated to the boundary of the site and some of the town´s main trunk sewer network is to be diverted to facilitate development. The topography of the site also places constraint on the development.

There is circa 4m of fall across the site and as a result entry points for delivery vehicles will be via a basement service area.

This results in significant amounts of excess cut material being generated by the earthworks exercise to create a suitable development plateau. BWB have been instrumental in assessing the quantities of likely materials generated by the bulk excavations. We have utilised our in house geo-environmental expertise, in conjunction with our ground modelling engineers, to establish a cost effective earthworks and remediation strategy which minimises the extent, and volume of hazardous and non hazardous materials to be removed to tips off site.

This co-ordinated cross discipline approach has enabled the design team to manipulate the scheme to provide a cost effective solution to engineering issues whilst still retaining the aspirations of client and local authority regarding visibility and density of the redevelopment.
In other things in Wakefield how extensive has office and residential development been in the city centre as I don't seem to have seen much in way of new apartment and office complexes in the city centre and didn't I remember a masterplan for its waterfront for new residential developments and an art gallery and has that started construction yet? Didn't I also remember seeing some plans a while ago which stated that the existing Inner Ring Road in Wakefield is to be downgraded from a dual carriageway to a Parisien Boulevard style road?

Also regarding transport just why did they never merge Westgate and Kirkgate stations onto one site where the two lines serving each station cross perhaps in a two level station similar to the likes of the old Holbeck station in Leeds or the existing twin level station at Tamworth in the Midlands or the new Liverpool South Parkway station.

It could perhaps also incorporate a second bus station for Wakefield and associated residential and office development? Surely that would act as a large boon for transport and development within Wakefield as well as opening the opportunity to revitalise the long derelict Kirkgate station which I guess could be moved in parts to a new location as well as the remaining attractive stuff from Westgate? Isn't the only plan for rail improvement in Wakefield just to add a new platform for Westgate station (and what happened to plans to move the station 100m?) and nothing has been planned for Kirkgate station?


Westgate station


Kirkgate station

The map below shows where this new shopping centre is in red, the existing Ridings Centre in blue and the existing stations with a red BR logo and my idea for a new station in a blue BR logo.

 
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#166 ·
Wakefield Westgate train station is being redeveloped on a new site to the North of the existing station buildings. The new station building, which is part of the Merchant Gate redevelopment, will be constructed next to the multi-storey car park on Mulberry Way and will provide better access for vehicles, pedestrians and bicycles directly off the inner ring road and local bus routes.

The funding, contributed by English Cities Fund and Department of Transport, will also facilitate the provision of better retail outlets, new travel centre, new First Class lounge, customer reception and information screens – contributing towards a new welcoming gateway to the city of Wakefield.

The project, which is to be built by Buckingham Group Contracting Ltd, will complement the refurbished customer facilities on Platform 2, which were completed in 2012.

Within a separate project, there are plans to build a hotel where the current station building stands.

Wakefield MP Mary Creagh, said: “By the end of our 125th birthday city celebrations in 2013 we will have a state-of-the-art station in Wakefield, which will finally be fully disabled accessible. This is good for local jobs and growth as we welcome more visitors to our regenerating city.”
A hotel, eh? It'd be a good spot for one. Oh and they're tidying up The Springs a bit. Trees and stuff. It's Phase 3 of this masterplan: http://www.wakefield.gov.uk/NR/rdon...68E86/0/TheSprings_PublicRealm_Exhibition.pdf
 
#168 ·
Shops are getting a tidy up too. About time...

Wakefield Council has announced a new grant scheme to improve Wakefield’s shops. The need for shop front improvements was identified by the Wakefield City Centre Partnership (WCCP). A key priority for the WCCP is to bring forward proposals to help improve the vitality and viability of Wakefield City Centre.

The grant, which is provided by the Council, is to improve the appearance and quality of shop frontages in the area.

The grant is initially focussed on Brook Street and Westmoreland Street. Businesses will be able to apply for a grant from the £50,000 pot to improve their shop fronts. Applications can be made for a grant contribution of up to 50% of the costs, up to £5,000 (giving a project cost of £10,000 per property, in exceptional circumstances this may be increased). The scheme will run until March 2015.

The work would need to be of good quality, in-line with the Wakefield District Shop Front Guide and the Street Style Design guide. All successful applications would also need to meet some legal and financial criteria, with the potential for the Council to remove funding if not met.
 
#171 ·
A busy roundabout could be removed as further plans to transform the city centre road network are revealed.

Wakefield Council has proposed replacing the roundabout connecting Ings Road and Denby Dale Road with a traffic light junction.

And the stretch of Denby Dale Road between the new junction and Charlesworth Way would become one-way in the outbound direction.

The council has already announced proposals to introduce traffic lights at the roundabout connecting Marsh Way and Kirkgate, and remove the subway.

Both schemes are part of the Wakefield city centre package, and will be completed over the next 10 years using cash from the Leeds City Region’s £1bn transport fund.

The funding will also cover costs for a new relief road which will be built the east of the city centre.

And the three schemes combined are expected to generate an extra 2,000 jobs.

Graham West, service manager for highways, said:

“The introduction of the West Yorkshire ‘Plus’ Transport Fund details a number of proposed schemes to improve infra-structure and accessibility. Both of these schemes are subject to the completion of final design and approval.

“These changes will benefit the connectivity of the city centre and provide the infrastructure to compliment the regeneration of Kirkgate and Ings Road.”

The package will include improved cycling and pedestrian facilities at the Ings Road junction, and a new outbound bus lane on Kirkgate.
http://www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk/n...re-roads-ings-road-roundabout-to-go-1-5770348
 
#172 ·
Interesting stuff. That roundabout is on my way home from trips south - presumably in the future I'd be routed past B&Q instead.

That roundabout is currently also home to one of Wakefield's ugliest buildings - it would be no sad loss to see this go:

 
#173 ·
Pontefract plans first liquorice museum in UK

A liquorice museum could be built in a former court building under plans revealed by a voluntary organisation.

Pontefract Groups Together (PGT) wants to convert the town's magistrates' court into an exhibition celebrating 400 years of sweet making history.

PGT secretary Sir William O'Brien said the museum would be the first in the UK and would have worldwide appeal.

Sweet manufacturers Tangerine and Haribo, which both operate factories in the town, have backed the plans.

Liquorice is thought to have been brought to Pontefract by Crusaders from the Middle East and the area once had fields full of the root.

'Renowned worldwide'
At one time there were 13 liquorice factories in the town, but production has declined and the Tangerine and Haribo sites are the only ones remaining.

Discover delicious liquorice recipes with BBC Food
A festival is held every year in July to celebrate Pontefract's historic association with the plant.

Sir William, who was Labour MP for the former constituency of Normanton until 2005, said: "Pontefract has a history of 400 years involvement with liquorice.

"It is renowned worldwide and we have nothing to show of that heritage and history and we consider it is time that was put right."

He said PGT had made a bid to the Ministry of Justice in relation to the court in Cornmarket but that a number of other sites had been identified.

Plans for the museum were announced at an event attended by Herwig Vennekens, the managing director of Haribo in the UK, and Chris Marshall, the former chief executive of Tangerine.

Mr Marshall said: "I would love to see a museum that commemorates the fact that liquorice is been such a key part of our history."

Mr Vennekens said: "It is crucial that we remember the important role that liquorice has played in shaping the region.

"Through the Pontefract Liquorice Museum we can remember, share and celebrate liquorice's rich heritage within Pontefract and how this has shaped confectionery throughout the UK."
 
#175 ·
Mr Marshall said: "I would love to see a museum that commemorates the fact that liquorice is been such a key part of our history."

Mr Vennekens said: "It is crucial that we remember the important role that liquorice has played in shaping the region.

"Through the Pontefract Liquorice Museum we can remember, share and celebrate liquorice's rich heritage within Pontefract and how this has shaped confectionery throughout the UK."
Isn't the town also famous for the broken bridge? ;)
 
#181 ·
Yeah, they might just be repairing the bridge or something. There's a load of sandbags or something underneath it blocking off the water from going under a few of the arches and the workmen were stood on them with a little bit of scaffolding.
 
#184 ·
I drove past the new station on my way home from Nottingham last night - it's coming on well and looks a lot more substantial than the artists' impressions suggest. The next time I have a reason to go into the city centre (I can't think of any right now) I'll take another photo from the multi-storey.
 
#190 ·
Proposals for a new warehouse to be built at the former Newmarket Colliery site just south of M62 Junction 30: http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co....e-to-boost-jobs-and-stadium-project-1-6076108

Good to see some development although I have strong doubts over whether the proposed new Wakefield Trinity Wildcats stadium will ever get built considering long running financial issues for the rugby league team. It must be a huge warehouse if it is going to be 42m high.
 
#192 ·
According to Look North the Ridings Shopping Centre is 30 years old today.



How has the Ridings coped since Trinity Walk opened a couple of years back? Whilst it is still anchored by the likes of M&S, BHS, Boots, Morrisons and Primark I did recall a fair number of empty units and lower end retailers within the Ridings. Also a pity to note that Ridings Centre tenants the Wakefield branch of Waterstones will be closing (the last specialist bookshop in Wakefield) and that WH Smith will be moving elsewhere as a result of the expansion of the adjacent Primark unit: http://www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk/n...t-to-move-out-but-primark-to-expand-1-6094216

Says a lot to see Waterstones close down with the rise of e-books and the internet resulting in the decline of book shops and regarding WH Smith, could they open in the former HMV (assuming that unit hasn't already got a replacement tenant) although I would imagine there would certainly be good demand for an expanded Primark in Wakefield City Centre? Also interesting to note that Clintons will be reopening at Trinity Walk after closing their Wakefield store when they went under in 2012.

 
#193 ·
The Look North report said the Ridings had taken a bit of a hit with Trinity but it was doing okay. The centre manager said they had 6 empty units out of a total of 90, and two of those were under offer.

The Ridings forms a key route from the central area around the cathedral down to Kirkgate. As such it generates a decent amount of footfall and should always do ok.
 
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