Wakefield Civic Society has today given cautious support for the Council’s proposal to acquire The Ridings shopping centre to create a new ‘Cathedral Quarter’ at the heart of the city centre.
The Society recognises that Cathedral Quarter is a bold and ambitious project that will transform Wakefield city centre, creating new opportunities for local businesses, residents and visitors alike, and we welcome the further investment being made in the city.
Change is necessary – shopping habits have changed markedly in recent years, and more people now work from home; city centres must adapt and evolve to keep pace with these and other changes in society, they cannot remain frozen in time.
However, while we appreciate that the Council’s announcement is at present one of principle rather than detail, the proposals do raise a number of questions and concerns that we hope will be addressed as details of the scheme emerge. We look forward to taking part in the public consultation in March and seeing much greater detail of what is being proposed.
Not least of our concerns is the impact that the proposals will have on residents and businesses that will be directly affected by the demolition of The Ridings and associated buildings. Projects on this scale are disruptive: they are unsettling and create uncertainty, often for a prolonged period. We look to the Council to publish a detailed timetable for the work so that individuals and businesses can plan for the future and make informed decisions.
We want Wakefield to be a thriving and prosperous city that is attractive to residents, businesses and visitors. We hope to see quality designs coming forward that enhance the appeal and reputation of the city while also being respectful of the city’s heritage.
Our full response can be downloaded here.