The Ridings' closure: Explore Wakefield's award-winning shopping centre The Ridings in 1991

Major plans were revealed earlier this week, stating that Wakefield Council are set to demolish The Ridings as part of a “bold new vision” for the city.

The demolition of the centre, and the high-rise flats above, aim to make way for a “vibrant new quarter” to include new homes, leisure facilities and spaces for events.

The landmark city centre retail mall first opened its doors on October 17, 1983.

The centre was among the first of its kind in the UK, containing features such as a food court, inspired by American shopping centres; the first glass wall climber lift, which was an exact copy of those in the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Atlanta; and served as a template for other national shopping centres.

The Ridings centre was massively popular upon opening, with queues forming on the streets.

The following year, the centre went on to win the title of European Shopping Centre of the Year, a title it went on to win for the next decade.

The centre was extensively refurbished in 2008 at a cost of £2.5 million.

The improvements included a redesign of the centre's entrances as well as new lifts, which replaced the original glass wall-climber lift.

In 2015, The Ridings was bought by investment company NewRiver Retail and given a £5 million makeover.

However, over the past decade, several shops within the centre have closed, despite the opening of a new food court and cinema, with high street retailers struggling to cope.

The Ridings was purchased by the Leeds-based property developer, Zahid Iqbal in 2023 but is set to be bought out by the council to make way for the new regeneration scheme.

The council’s cabinet members are expected to agree to the first stage of the plan at a meeting on February 17.

Look back at The Ridings Shopping Centre during its peak, through these great photos.