New creative and entertainment hub to come to Wakefield

Work is expected to start this month on the restoration project of Rutland Mills at Wakefield Waterfront. 

Phase one of the restoration, which is expected to take three years, will see the restoration of five mill buildings.

One of the restored buildings will have a diverse food market, other buildings will include space for creative industries, an educational establishment, commercial offices, music studios and a boutique hotel.

The project has received £2.89m from the Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership.

Cllr Denise Jeffery, leader of Wakefield Council, said: ‘Signing this contract means the world to this district. It’s going to be a real game-changer.

‘We’ve waited a long time for this, we talked about it a number of years ago and I was involved in it through the regeneration project.

‘It’s absolutely wonderful and it will put Wakefield on the map.

‘It will bring jobs, it will bring investment and more than anything, it will bring people from all over the region to Wakefield for their entertainment.’

Paul Kempe, director of CPP said: ‘This major regeneration project will be a major cultural boost for the district and the region.

‘Our vision is that Rutland Mills will be transformational for Wakefield, in particular, but also for the wider region and what we want to deliver here is a creative hub with all sorts of employment opportunities, for local people and those from further afield, who will want to come here and have a chance to be able to enjoy what will be an incredibly vibrant place.’

Earlier this month (January 10), plans were announced for a £4.4m economic strategy to regenerate parts of Wakefield.

This project is part of Wakefield’s new economic strategy which includes plans to repurpose the city and the town centre.

The regeneration will be funded by a £1.9m grant from Heritage Action Zone, £0.6m from the private sector and £1.9m from the council.

Photo Credit – Wakefield Council