Date:20/03/2006
Source: Wakefield First
Over 1,000 jobs are to be created by the £100M redevelopment of Wakefield's Historic Waterfront
Details were released by developers and Oliver Quarmby, of CTP St James, the company behind the development, said the figure was a "conservative estimate".
The comment followed the news from CTP St James that work on the long-awaited Waterfront project would start in April 2006. Phase one of the project will involve restoration and conversion of the grade two listed Calder and Hebble Navigation Warehouse for office and leisure use.
Oliver Quarmby said:
"Phase one alone is anticipated to create 374 jobs. Very roughly speaking, overall we have planning consent for something like 19,000 sq m of development. Based on our calculations, that would mean about 1,000 jobs as a conservative estimate, not including restaurant and bar jobs."
The redevelopment of the Waterfront will include offices, restaurants, bars and the £26M Hepworth Wakefield art gallery.
Mr Quarmby added:
"This neglected part of the city will be transformed and will become a truly wonderful, invigorating and stimulating place to live, work and spend time. It is tremendously exciting. We can't wait to get started."
Another multi million pound project that will help to transform Wakefield has been given detailed planning approval. The £175M Marsh Way/Trinity Walk retail development scheme – including a Debenhams department store, Sainsbury's supermarket and apartments – has been granted approval by Wakefield Council.
Wakefield Council's cabinet is now set to consider proposals to serve a compulsory purchase order on a vast area of the city centre around Marsh Way to secure the land for the huge development.
This would mean that businesses within the area would have to vacate their premises; however the majority of the land is vacant or derelict.
