News

12th March 2008 Following on from the sucessful Crown Court regeneration, Wakefield MDC have now turned their attention to the Bull Ring. The final design concept was agreed in May 2007 and work onsite is proposed to start this month and continue over the next 5 years subject to funding. The aim of the project is to provide a focal point for the city centre which will act as a natural extension of the established shopping precinct and the new Trinity Walk Development. Further information is available here.

22nd February 2008 Plans to extend the Ridings Shopping Centre have been given the green light. The shopping centre which was originally opened in 1983 is to undergo a £25 million pound refurbishment including a new extension at the Southgate entrance which will provide an additional 100,000 sq ft for new and existing retailers.

13th February 2008 The high street fashion retailer Peacocks have taken 9,740 sq ft at the £200m Trinity Walk development in Wakefield which is due to open in spring 2010. They will join Debenhams which has taken a 92,000 sq ft and Sainsbury’s amongst o ther retailerswhich include Next, New Look and H&M. The two level retail scheme will sit alongside an indoor market, a new public library and 72 apartments.

12th December 2007 Important update for Landlords regarding business rates. As announced in the Budget report of 21 March2007, from April 2008 amendments to Part 3 of the Local Governments Finance Act 1988 will increase empty property rates from 50% to 100% of the basic occupied business rate, after initial void periods have elapsed. For most properties, excluding industrial, the void period is three months. For industrial properties, the void period will be six months. The change is intended to encourage owners to re-let, re-develop or sell empty non-domestic buildings. Properties owned by charities and community amateur sports clubs will, in future, not be liable to empty property rates. The changes also puts in place powers to tackle cases of rate avoidance by owners who deliberately vandalise their property in order to avoid paying rates.

22nd November 2007 Wakefield MDC are considering plans for a major new development on Kirkgate, Wakefield. The £13.5 plans for the former ABC cinema which has been closed since 1996 will create a glass fronted apartment block comprising of 119 flats with a covered retail parade and underground car parking for 50 cars.

20th November 2007 The building works of Linfit Court at Clayton West are now well under way. When completed in spring 2008 this eagerly awaited development will comprise of 13 high quality warehouse units ranging from 1,400 to 2,800 sq. ft. Interest is already very strong and 3 units are already pre-let.

9th November 2007 Following the successful opening of the newly refurbished Crown Court in Wakefield, plans to regenerate the Bull Ring area are next on the agenda. Detailed plans are to be completed in early 2008 with work on site starting soon after. For more information about the Bull Ring refurbishment scheme contact Richard King or Becci Erbillur on 01924 304950 or email ucmed@wakefield.gov.uk

10th October 2007 Wakefield MDC have announced ambitous plans for the regeneration of Featherstone town centre. The plans are available to view in Featherstone library on Station Lane.

24th August 2007 The Ridings Shopping Centre owners, The Moorfield Group, have this week announce a new £25m expansion plan which will provide an additional 100,000 sq ft of extra retail space. The plans also include a new glass entrance for Cathedral Walk and a new 12,000 sq ft headquarters for the Wakefield Express newspaper. Work is due to commence in January 2008 subject to gaining planning consent.

23rd August 2007 The Wakefield FreeCityBus has proved to be a popular service with over 100,000 passengers in it's first 4 months. The 2.7 mile route’s 12 stops link key locations around Wakefield City Centre including the city's Westgate and Kirkgate train stations, the bus station, shops and retail parks, the Ridings Centre, Ings Road and the Cathedral and Westgate Retail and Leisure Parks. Developed by Metro in partnership with Wakefield Council, the fleet of three low-floor, 29-seat single-deck FreeCityBuses run every ten minutes from 7.30am to 7.00pm Monday to Friday and from 8.30am to 5.00pm on Saturdays. A map of the route can be downloaded here.

10th August 2007 A new website with details of the £175m Trinity Walk scheme in Wakefield as gone live. The development will create a new 560,000 sq.ft. mixed use shopping quarter opposite Wakefield’s existing retail core. The website is www.trinitywalk.com and you can download an information pack with details of the scheme.

3rd May 2007 The £100m Trinity Walk development is due to start in July of this year. The market hall designed by David Adjaye will be the first large retail centre, with plans to build a new Sainsbury's supermarket, Debenhams, Next and New Look shop. This will be along with another 50 retail units with offices, 72 residential apartments and a new public library. More information is avalable at www.wakefieldfirst.com

1st April 2007 From today the Uniform Business Rate multiplier has been set for 2007/2008 at 44.4p for te standar rate and with those eligable for small business rates relief set at 44.1p. For more information please visit www.mybusinessrates.gov.uk

26 February 2007 Work started today on the re-development of Crown Court yard in Wakefield. The work is set to take 16 weeks and cost £500,000. This will transform the area into the first public square in Wakefield for over 10 years. Further information is available here.

6 February 2007 It's Rhubarb time. Wakefields first annual food & rhubarb festival starts this coming week and runs from the 12th February until the 18th February. Various events and activities are planned and more information can be found here.

19 January 2007 Phase one of the Wakefield Waterfront project got under way this week. The £100m development involves refurbishment of the Grade II Calder and Hebble navigation warehouse along with new office buildings, apartments and leisure facilities.

23 October 2006 A exhibition of the Trinity Walk development scheme is now open at the Orangery ob Back Lane in Wakefield. This is the first showing of David Adjayes work in Yorkshire and is open to the public free of charge until the 2nd February 2007

21 June 2006 Wakefied Metropolitan Distric Council (WMDC) through the Urban Centres Management & Economic Development Service (UCMED), are offering grant assistance to help improve shopfronts in key location within Wakefield City Centre, the Five Towns, Hemsworth, South Elmsall, Ossett and Horbury. For further information including guidance notes, a design guide and an application form please contact Mr Eric Hill of the UCMED on telephone 01924 304950

1 April 2006 From today the Uniform Business Rate multiplier has been set for 2006/2007 at 43.3p for te standar rate and with those eligable for small business rates relief set at 42.6p. For more information please visit www.mybusinessrates.gov.uk

10 April 2006 Tenders for St. Faiths Churh and the Stanley Royd Lodge have now closed and sales have been agreed.

17 March 2006 An exciting delevopment opportunity has come to the market. The historic 145 year old St. Faith's Church on Stanley Road in Wakefield has been placed on the market along with the former Stanley Royd Lodge and Theatre. The properties are offered by way of an informal tender which closes on the 7th April 2006 at 12 noon.

13 December 2005 Our very own office songbird, Emma Akeroyd will be appearing on the Calendar News talent search "Are you the voice?" on the 15th December at 6pm. We all wish her the best of luck with the competition.

05 December 2005 Marketing has commenced for a new development of 6 high quality industrial/warehouse units on Willowbridge Way at Whitwood which are available on a sale or let basis which will be ready for occupation Spring 2006. These units which range from 8,000 - 29,500 sq ft offer excellent motorway access, for more details please contact our office.

27 October 2005 TODAY marks the end of the line for more than 300 staff at train maker Bombardier as Wakefield's 150-year rail heritage finally runs out of steam. Production at the Horbury Junction site officially ended yesterday, with 40 of the 350-strong workforce staying on site to wind up the operation by Christmas.

11 May 2005 Wakefield Metropolitan District Council are to be holding exhibitions detailing their plans for the Westgate Key Development Area. The Exhibitions are to be held in the Ridings Shopping Centre upper mall from 16th to 18th May 2005, City Centre Management Office 1 Marygate from 19th May to 10th June 2005 and Planning Services Reception Newton Bar from 16th May to 10th June 2005. For more information please visit the official website here.

01 April 2005 Every five years the rateable values of all 1.75 million business properties in England and Wales are reassessed. The most recent revaluation came into effect on 1 April 2005. If your rateable value is less than £15,000 (or less than £21,500 in Greater London) you may benefit from the Small Business Rate Relief scheme. You will need to register your eligibility with your local authority. For more information regarding this you can visit the offical webiste at www.mybusinessrates.gov.uk.