Wakefield Ridings demolition scrutinised

The regeneration overview and scrutiny committee has called in council plans to buy the shopping centre and incorporate it into the redevelopment of Cathedral Square being delivered by Muse.

Earlier this month, the council agreed a deal to buy the shopping centre, which saw anchor tenant M&S jump ship in January, from landlord Zahid Iqbal.

The government has pledged £17.9m towards the first phase of the Cathedral Square redevelopment, which will see the 1980’s building pulled down and replaced with around housing, green spaces, and leisure facilities.

Muse was named as Wakefield’s strategic regeneration partner in January last year, and has since focused its gaze on the Cathedral Quarter scheme, which will deliver around 1,000 homes, public space, a new museum, library, and cinema.

Last week the city council’s cabinet signed off a package of actions that will allow officers to advance the project, not least among them the razing of the 1980s shopping centre.

No date has yet been set for the closure of the shopping centre, which is more than one-third vacant, and the redevelopment of Cathedral Square, which was masterplanned by architect firm 5Plus, is expected to take between 10-20 years.

Now, however, 10 opposition councillors have submitted a request for the measures to be re-examined, citing a lack of public consultation, financial risk, and the effect on residents and business owners involved with The Ridings.

The application states: “The cabinet has failed to address the significant public outcry due to the lack of consultation prior to this decision.