Ridings' £25m expansion plan
A MULTI-MILLION pound extension plan has been unveiled by The Ridings Shopping Centre bosses this week, the Express can exclusively reveal.
The 25m scheme will see a three-storey extension built on to the Southgate entrance of the Ridings, providing 100,000 sq ft of extra retail space.
The Wakefield Express will also move into a new home on Southgate after centre owners, Moorfield Group, agreed a deal to buy three quarters of the paper’s site from its parent company, Johnston Press.
The makeover plans will also see the centre’s food court redesigned, new lifts installed and a centre-wide decorating scheme.
New glass entrances will replace the ageing ones on Cathedral Walk, Kirkgate and Almshouse Lane as previously reported by the Express.
As our image of the new Cathedral Walk entrance shows, a public courtyard will be created as part of the overhaul along with a new cafe inside the city centre gateway.
Mark Holmes, of Moorfield Group, said: “Wakefield is a city where we see enormous potential for growth and we are really excited about the plans for its regeneration.
“When we first acquired the Ridings in November 2005, Moorfield recognised the huge potential that Wakefield has to establish itself strongly as a retail destination and we are committed to helping this process through further investment in the centre.
“As we now move towards realising that commitment with these plans for the Ridings, we look forward to playing our part in the wider regeneration of the city and continuing to work closely with Wakefield Council.”
The new 12,000sq ft headquarters for the Express will also be built by Moorfield Group, along with parking spaces for 15 cars.
Helen Oldham, managing director of the Yorkshire Weekly Newspaper Group, said: “We are delighted to be staying in the city centre in new offices, which will improve the working environment for all of our staff and customers. We will work with Moorfield Group throughout the design and construction process to ensure that the move from our existing building to our modern new premises is a smooth transition for all.”
A planning application is expected to be submitted to the council during the next few weeks and if permission is granted, work will begin on the entire scheme this January. Centre bosses hope the project will be completed during 2008.
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Wakefield
Friday 25 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 10 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 20 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 9 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: East
