£4.4m investment to ‘transform’ Wakefield town centre

Plans have been announced for a £4.4m economic strategy to regenerate parts of Wakefield. 

This project is part of Wakefield’s new economic strategy which includes plans to repurpose the city and the town centre.

The regeneration will be funded by a £1.9m grant from Heritage Action Zone, £0.6m from the private sector and £1.9m from the council.

The funding will also be used to create a grant scheme for building owners to restore historic buildings, improve shop fronts and repair buildings.

The money will also be used to offer grants to property owners to bring vacant buildings into spaces for new businesses or residents.

Wakefield had been under Labour control since 1932 but in the recent general election, the Conservative Imran Ahmad-Khan defeated Labour’s Mary Creagh by 3,358 votes.

Cllr Darren Byford, cabinet member for economic growth and regeneration at Wakefield Council said: ‘This is an exciting project, it will support our long-term goals and delivery community and economic benefits to this part of the city.

‘Re-purposing historic buildings will help to improve perceptions of this part of the city and encourage businesses to locate into the city centre.

‘It will also create new jobs that will help to reduce poverty and provide support to local communities.’

In February 2019, New Start reported on regeneration plans in Knottingley Wakefield, with a £50m ‘transformational plan’ for the town.

Under the full ten-year Knottingley Vision and Action Plan, over £50m will be invested into projects in the West Yorkshire town including a bespoke employment and skills programme and the extension and refurbishment of a local leisure centre.

The council’s cabinet will be asked to approve the vision and action plan, along with other proposed projects, at their upcoming cabinet meeting this March.

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