Bringing the waterfront back to life…
A Brief History of Wakefield’s Waterfront
Wakefield’s waterways have played a significant role in the city’s industrial heritage and economic prosperity.
Developed in the 1760s and 70s, the waterways were the catalyst for the construction of warehouses and other historic mill buildings that remain part of the River Calder conservation area to this day. During Wakefield’s industrial heyday, these buildings served as commercial properties for industries that relied upon the canal for the transportation of freight.
These industries were prosperous for a number of years but by the end of the 19th Century the waterfront has begun to decline, as other methods for transporting goods replaced the canals. For many years Wakefield’s waterfront went largely unnoticed...
Revival
Now the waterfront is coming alive again, thanks to a new £100 million development that will make it once again a focal point for Wakefield’s economic prosperity.
The world-class The Hepworth Wakefield art gallery is at the heart of the waterfront development, which also features new office, leisure and restaurant space together with stylish residential apartments. The Hepworth development includes a new 50-metre pedestrian bridge, which will link the waterfront to Wakefield city centre when the new gallery opens in 2010.
The 10 acre-site will provide in the region of 500,000 sq ft of mixed-use development accommodation within Wakefield's waterfront conservation area.
The Navigation Warehouse
Developers CTP St James launched phase one of Waterfront Wakefield in autumn 2008.
Central to the first phase was the restoration of the 18th Century Grade II*-listed Calder & Hebble Navigation Warehouse. This fine heritage building has been sensitively refurbished to create new modern office space on the upper levels and two new restaurants/ bars on the ground floor.
Director of CTP St James, Roland Stross, commented: “This is a truly magnificent building, one of the finest we have ever come across. With its setting and character it will make a superb office environment, whilst the restaurants on the ground floor will be unique”.
In summer 2008 the Guardian newspaper praised the Navigation Warehouse in a top ten of industrial buildings whose reuse is making a lasting impression on West Yorkshire’s regeneration.
Developers CTP St James are currently working on proposals for future phases of the waterfront development
Wildlife
As well as restoring the historic buildings on Wakefield’s waterfront, the Waterfront Wakefield development will give local people and visitors more opportunities to enjoy the many natural wonders of the River Calder conservation area.
Wakefield’s waterfront is home to a wide variety of wild birds such as mallards, moorhens, swans, herons and summer visitors like swallows, to name but a few.
The water quality of the River Calder has improved significantly over the last few years.
These improved conditions have helped to increase stocks of fish, including pike and roach and have attracted birds such as kingfishers, which like to live in places where water quality is good.
It is also quite common to spot field mice, shrews, rabbits, voles, frogs and toads along the waterfront.
For more information about wildlife and the activities you can enjoy along Yorkshire’s waterways, please visit www.waterscape.com
