The regeneration of Wakefield's historic Waterfront is a key priority for Wakefield Council and the city. The new art gallery known as The Hepworth Wakefield occupies the prominent site facing the city centre and this will be joined to and complemented by the £100m commercial project by developers CTP St James. This part of the project includes an imaginative mix of high quality office, residential and leisure buildings covering 10 acres. The completed development will transform the southern gateway to the City, adding a new cultural dimension and revitalise the historic waterfront through provision of high quality living, office and riverside leisure accommodation and activities.
The masterplan for the area includes the restoration and conservation of a number of fine historic structures such as the 18th century Grade II* Listed Navigation Warehouse, Grade II Listed Phoenix and Rutland Mills complex. The historic buildings will be sympathetically restored and, together with a range of new buildings, will provide an imaginative mix of around 50,000 m² (500,000 sq ft) of high quality riverside apartments, office and leisure accommodation including restaurants, cafés, courtyards, landscaped gardens and public spaces. The scheme has been drawn up in partnership with Wakefield Council and British Waterways and has attracted significant financial support from Yorkshire Forward and European Union (ERDF Grant).
The Hepworth Wakefield, a 5500m² world-class gallery and centre for creative arts designed by international architect David Chipperfield opened in 2011. This major public attraction, commissioned by Wakefield Council, is built on a dramatic site next to the River Calder with views over the City and features the unique collection of 30 of Barbara Hepworth’s original plaster sculptures, together with finished sculptures and interpretative displays of her life, works and creative process.
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Wakefield Art Gallery’s internationally respected fine and contemporary art collections are also displayed in The Hepworth Wakefield, which also hosts a programme of inspiring exhibitions, events and creative and learning activities.
The £26m scheme includes a new pedestrian bridge over the River Calder, to improve linkages between Waterfront Wakefield and Wakefield City Centre, together with a dedicated car park and coach drop off point on Thornes Lane. The gallery site also includes a Grade II Listed Watermill which will be conserved to provide interpretation of the history of the mill and waterfront and create managed workspace.
Overall the Waterfront scheme, including The Hepworth, Wakefield and commercial development, has attracted significant public sector funding support, with over £27m of match funding secured or allocated from Arts Council England, Heritage Lottery Fund Stage One Pass, European Regional Development Fund and Yorkshire Forward.
Outline planning permission was granted for the masterplan in December 2004 followed by detailed planning permission for Phase I in November 2005 which focussed on the restoration of the Navigation Warehouse and three new buildings around the Flood Lock area, No's 1 & 2 Navigation Walk and Hebble Wharf. Detailed planning permission was granted for The Hepworth Wakefield (including bridge, car park) in January 2005. Work on both The Hepworth Wakefield and Phase 1 of the commercial development started in late 2006. Phase 1 was completed at the end of 2008 and the gallery was completed in 2011. Further phases are planned to complete the development.
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