Wakefield to demolish The Ridings as part of Cathedral Square development
The council has agreed a deal to buy the shopping centre, which saw anchor tenant M&S jump ship last month, and will incorporate it into the redevelopment of Cathedral Square being delivered by Muse.
The government has agreed to fund £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.
The Ridings deal was spurred on by the departure of M&S last month, and the council’s belief that Primark was also going to leave.
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.
The council previously tried to buy The Ridings in 2022, however it pulled out and the building was later sold to businessman Zahid Iqbal in 2023, who has now agreed to the sale for an undisclosed sum.
Four nearby tower blocks containing 260 flats – Warren House, Manor House, Tudor House, and Trinity House, all owned by social housing company Vico Homes – will also be demolished.
New homes for residents will be part of phase one of the redevelopment. The council has also said that there will be help for traders who wish to remain in the city centre.
Simon Dew, director of development management at Muse, said: “The challenges that the city centre is facing are happening in many areas up and down the country as shopping habits change and former retail areas need to be repurposed.
“Our proposals to deliver residential, leisure and commercial accommodation in the Cathedral Quarter will act as a major catalyst for this part of the city centre, bringing more people into Wakefield and driving economic activity for the city.”
Paul Norbury, director of 5Plus, said: “This is a wonderful opportunity for Wakefield to address a problematic part of the city containing an outdated and inward-looking shopping centre.
“The creation of new public spaces and pedestrianised routes with a mixed-use neighbourhood will better connect the civic core with the Hepworth Gallery and the underutilised but attractive streets to the south.”
Deputy council leader Jack Hemingway said: “We want to create an economy that’s sustainable and has a future, and that’s why the Ridings has got to change.
“We now have both the funding to buy The Ridings and the specialist development expertise we need to kickstart work to bring this vision to life.
“Muse has a proven track record of successfully delivering here in Wakefield and similar projects all over the country.
“They bring with them extensive experience and knowledge of the funding landscape and we have the support of other partners like MHCLG, Homes England and West Yorkshire Combined Authority.
“The pieces are in place to make this happen.”
Zahid Iqbal said: “It’s like owning the Titanic, it’s a big scheme, it’s all the safety factors, security, cleaning and it’s impossible to cover the costs with small traders.
“These plans are in the best interests for the future of the city, and I really hope everyone gets behind these bold plans.”
So does the council have a plan to relocate all the traders that are still in the Ridings ……. No they don’t. So instead of trying to protect the remaining retail offering, they’ll provide a huge open space that no one wants. Let’s not forget the shambolic way they treated all the former market traders when they decided to repurpose the market hall into a little used “events space”
By Marky B
I thought the council didn’t have any money.
By Anonymous
Thank you to Marky B for your comment which is exactly right there’s no mention of relocating us small traders as we have been called we are just getting pushed aside for yet another of Wakefields ‘White Elephants’ and no mention of any commercial development that is going to possibly re-home us ? Iam Amanda trading for 17 years in Wakefield and trying to give the public if Wakefield something they love so o really do hope ‘Muse’ who are taking over will give us the help as the council have suggested .
By Amanda Cordones of Luela Boutique
Is Boots included in this demolition?
By Steve Willis
Maybe the Council has no money; so what, nobody has millions of pounds wasting away in a safe, unless they are daft: just like all business enterprises, they will borrow working capital; it is called Capitalism.
By Anonymous