Plans for shopping centre revamp approved

The Ridings scheme involves a major upgrade of 22 former shops

Plans for a major revamp of one of Wakefield's main shopping centres have been approved.

Councillors have backed a scheme proposing to upgrade 22 "out-of-date" retail units at The Ridings.

Most of the shops earmarked for improvements are on All Saints Walk, which connects the east and west part of the shopping centre.

The proposal includes installing new cladding, repainting concrete panels and fitting black windows to give the stores "a contemporary aesthetic."

A planning statement submitted on behalf of centre owner Zahid Iqbal said: "The proposal aims to renovate existing out-of-date and non-matching store fronts.

"A lot of these stores are vacant and the proposal aims to bring more business into the eastern part of The Ridings shopping centre.

"The design is aimed at providing the client and area with an exceptionally high quality and aesthetically pleasing commercial revamp to improve local business as most of the stores are not owned by major brands.

"The proposed development aims to refresh the existing facades and store fronts which currently look mismatched and old.

Planning officers said the scheme would create "a more harmonious streetscape" while the proposed materials and finishes were "of high quality and appropriate to the host building and wider street scene".

The Labour-run Wakefield Council backed out of buying the shopping centre in December 2022 after it had been considering taking control as part of plans to regenerate city centre areas.

But senior councillors had said financial pressures meant it was "not the time or the place" to buy the centre and cabinet members instead agreed to try to find a third-party buyer and work in partnership to redevelop The Ridings.

It was bought by Yorkshire businessman Zahid Iqbal in March 2023, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North