'Wakefield needs to move away from retail and into leisure and events' - masterplan laid out for future of city centre

The future of Wakefield is in events, leisure and culture  rather than shopping – and we’re going to need a hotel.’
Shoppers in Wakefield city centreShoppers in Wakefield city centre
Shoppers in Wakefield city centre

That’s the vision drawn up by Wakefield Civic Society, which says the retail-centred way that cities are judged is changing.

The society’s ideas, drawn up in a new document, go hand in hand with long term plans for the future by Wakefield Council.

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Even before the pandemic councillors and business experts believed the old way of city centres being first of all a place to shop were starting to change.

The pandemic has brought this change into clearer view as people simply are not allowed to go shopping, while Debenhams and the Arcadia group have been high profile casualties.

Civic society president Kevin Trickett said: “The last hundred years have been dominated by retail and that’s great but we have imagine a future less driven by retail and more by experiences, culture and leisure activities.

“It’s more than theatre and galleries – it’s live music performance, street art, festivals, the kind of things that draw people in.

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“When people are drawn into the city they will spend money in cafes, restaurants, bars, and in shops as well.” He said to attract people from more than a bus or train ride away the city centre would need a hotel.

The council has planned to host more events in the city and plans to convert the former Market Hall on Union Street into a space that can host events.

The Festival of the Moon in 2019, as well as the annual Rhubarb Festival, have shown the benefit of ‘big ticket’ events to draw people in.

In 2019 the Express conducted its city centre in which more than a thousand readers told us the changes they wanted to see.

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Leisure and more reasons to come into town figured prominently in your responses.

As well as events, the council is working to regenerate areas of the city centre.

Council leader Denise Jeffery said: “We want to encourage people to visit our city and stay for longer and we want it to work for them when they get here.

"This involves a comprehensive plan – which links developments and places such as Rutland Mills, Kirkgate, Westgate – making places easier and better for people to get around, so they can enjoy what we have to offer.”

What would you like to see happen in the city centre to improve it?