Source: Wakefield Express
Date: 15/12/2006
COUNCIL chiefs have taken a big step towards bringing a £26m art gallery to Wakefield after signing a lease contract for the site.
British Waterways this week confirmed a deal with Wakefield Council to lease the 1.7-acre site where the Hepworth Wakefield gallery will be built.
The gallery, which should be open by March 2009, will be the centrepiece of the £100m revamp of the city’s waterfront.
It will also include apartments, offices and bars and restaurants.
Coun Phil Dobson, the council’s deputy leader and cabinet member for regeneration, said: “Our agreement with British Waterways is another significant step towards the regeneration of the Waterfront area.
“The Hepworth Wakefield will be a world-class facility and will put this development and Wakefield on the national and international stage.
“As with all the developments planned for the city, the emphasis is on quality and I am certain that the people of the district will have real pride in what is about to be delivered.”
Laurence Morgan, general manager for British Waterways Yorkshire, said he was delighted to have reached the agreement.
He added: “This fantastic gallery is expected to draw international and national visitors to the city, and will be an important part of our vision to double customer numbers to the waterways by 2012.
“We have already identified Wakefield to be one of our priority destinations in the next few years and we are delighted to be working with Wakefield Council on this project.”
Oliver Quarmby, director of waterfront developers CTP St James, said the lease contract was key to the regeneration of the Waterfront.
He added: “It is possible to see now how the Waterfront community as a whole will develop with significant residential, commercial and cultural elements.”
