M&S move throws Wakefield high street’s future into focus
The retailer will be closing its city centre store in The Ridings shopping centre and taking up residence in an 18,000 sq ft unit in City Fields, leading the council to question the future of the high street mall.
Previously, the council attempted to buy The Ridings shopping centre as part of a regeneration strategy, although this plan was abandoned in 2022.
It was then bought by businessman Zahid Iqbal in 2023.
Since then, Wakefield Council has been engaging with the owner of The Ridings, to ascertain the long-term future of the high street asset.
With M&S now moving two miles away to an edge-of-city location, the shopping centre has only two remaining national retailers.
Jack Hemingway, the council’s cabinet member for regeneration and economic growth, said the new store would be “a great addition to City Fields, with more announcements like this to come later this year.
“There is no doubt that the move will have an impact on The Ridings, where M&S is one of the three remaining national retailers.
“Over recent months we’ve been working very closely with The Ridings owner as we look at the future of the city centre.
“We all want a city with a sustainable future where existing and new retail will thrive, attracting more people, investment and jobs. We will take the bold decisions needed to deliver this.”
Meanwhile, the new store will be a market-style food hall located on Neil Fox Way in City Fields, with Nikki McKidd, Marks & Spencer stores director, saying that it will be “one of the most modern stores in the UK.”
City Fields is a 375-acre urban extension to the east of Wakefield, which sits alongside the existing communities of Stanley, Eastmoor, Agbrigg, Belle Vue and Portobello.
The wider site also includes employment land. Developers with interests include a joint venture between Opus North and Bridges Fund Management, which acquired a 30-acre site from Keyland for a 500,000 sq ft industrial project.
Developers delivering housing include Barratt Homes, Miller Homes, Bellway, Countryside, Avant and Redrow.
The key landholders are the council, Keyland, Stretton Estates, and the City Fields Housing Consortium.
A date for the relocation has yet to be confirmed.
