A major announcement on the future of The Ridings Shopping Centre is expected over the “next two to three weeks”, Wakefield Council’s leader has said.

Karl Johnson said proposals for other projects across the district, including those for Castleford town centre, were also close to being finalised.

The local authority completed the purchase of the The Ridings for just over £11m in May when it was under the control of the previous Labour administration.

Those in charge at the time said the 43-year-old mall would be demolished to transform the area by building new homes, leisure facilities and event spaces.

The Ridings Shopping came under the ownership of Wakefield Council on May 1 after the authority completed a deal to buy it for just over £11m.

placeholder image — The Ridings Shopping came under the ownership of Wakefield Council on May 1 after the authority completed a deal to buy it for just over £11m.

Proposals also included demolishing four high-rise residential tower blocks – Manor House, Trinity House, Tudor House and Warren House – as part of the creation of a new Cathedral Quarter.

Labour lost control of the council days after the acquisition when Reform UK won 58 out of 63 seats at the local elections.

The new administration then said it would carry out an “in-depth review” of the scheme and launched a fresh public consultation in July.

Coun Johnson told a full council meeting on Wednesday (October 14): “We are going to give Wakefield a rebirth.

Major plans were revealed earlier this year to demolish The Ridings shopping centre in Wakefield. CGI of how the site could looks after redevelopment. Image: Wakefield Council

“We are not going to be a hub to Leeds, we are going to be Wakefield.

“In the next two or three weeks we will be making a major announcement.

“In fact, I’m going to rephrase that, we are going to be making major announcements, because we haven’t just been sat doing nothing.

“We have been getting under the bonnet, looking at the figures, looking at ways of moving forward, and making sure that Wakefield isn’t going to be bright for a year, but five, ten, 15, 20 years, and that generations will be proud of what we achieve.

The Ridings Shopping came under the ownership of Wakefield Council on May 1 after the authority completed a deal to buy it for just over £11m.Google image

“We will be announcing the public consultation in conjunction with what we will be doing with the Cathedral Quarter, TheRidings, Wakefield, Castleford.”

Matthew Pinder, the council’s cabinet member for district regeneration and regional growth, told the meeting that “thousands upon thousands” of people had engaged with the consultation.

He said: “We started this conversation to better understand your priorities, your concerns and your ambitions.

“Your views are going to be absolutely central to shaping the future of our city centre.

“We are now coming to the end of reviewing in detail the financial implications and potential opportunities for what comes next.

“We are going to be ambitious and focus on what local people want as per the consultation.

“As the public would expect, we have taken time to consider all options available to us, reviewing what’s deliverable, affordable, and reflects the views of local people before proposing any next steps.

“We know residents and businesses have been waiting very patiently for more information about what the future will look like, and we are hoping to have some news at cabinet very, very shortly.”