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contents
contents 07 news
News from regeneration and development schemes in Wakefield and the district.
11 quality of life
16 architecture Four leading architects discuss their favourite projects, in and around Wakefield. 24 projects
41 made in wakefield
South Kirby-based LS-Live is a UK leader in staging and equipment for live events and studio recording.
43 employment
Large employers investing in the area find a flexible, skilled and loyal workforce in Wakefield.
47 arts and culture
In the arts, Wakefield is a national destination, popular with UK and international visitors, an important player in the country's cultural life.
5 issue 1 autumn 2013
A round-up of some of the major regeneration developments, under way or up and coming.
A skilled workforce is a major factor influencing decisions on inward investment.
connect wakefield
The city of Wakefield and the neighbouring towns, rich in heritage and culture – and popular with new residents – now attract housing developers too.
38 education and skills
36 connectivity
Motorway networks, an international airport and five local authorities working together to improve transport – well connected Wakefield is set for further improvements.
Editorial director Siobhán Crozier Head of design Rachael Schofield Design Kate Harkus Contributing editors Sarah Herbert, Lucy Purdy Reporter James Wood Production assistant Joe Davies Divisional director of business development Paul Gussar Business development manager Shelley Cook Office manager Sue Mapara Subscriptions manager Simon Maxwell Managing director Toby Fox
Cover image Kevin Wakelam – Osgoldcross Photography Images Peel, John R Paley Associates, Leeds Bradford International Airport, The Hepworth Wakefield, Photo © Iwan Baan, Gabriel Szabo/Guzelian image courtesy of Haroon Mirza and The Hepworth Wakefield, © 2013 estate of William Scott, Castleford Bridge – McDowell+Benedetti and Timothy Soar, Backstage Academy, Nick Robinson, LS-Live, Courtesy of YSP © Jonty Wilde, Nichole Rowbottom, The Art House, Wakefield Council, Featureflash / Shutterstock.com
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news
gongs sound for hepworth
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leg up for startups Wakefield Council is launching a new programme to create businesses and jobs, thanks to a £755,000 grant. The European Regional Development grant will support delivery of the Wakefield Business Support Programme, a plan to create 140 jobs and 40 new businesses. The offer will receive match-funding, including staff resources, from the council.
The Hepworth Wakefield has already scooped the Clore Learning Award of £10,000 in June’s Art Fund Prize for Museum of the Year Awards. The award recognises both the achievements and quality of museum and gallery learning programmes for children and young people up to age 25.
Wakefield Council leader Peter Box said: “The funding reinforces our ongoing commitment to boosting our local economy, skilling up the district and helping residents into employment. "This project will look to attract entrepreneurs and inward investment to create and grow businesses, providing quality employment for local people. "It will assist 75 existing businesses, eight social enterprises and achieve a
The Wakefield Business Support Programme plans to help create
40
new businesses
Stephen Deuchar, Art Fund director and chair of judges, said: “The integration of curatorial and learning programmes – which so many museums attempt – has rarely been achieved so completely and impressively as at the Hepworth Wakefield. It is educational, aspirational, and inspirational to the core.”
£1 million gross increase by September 2015.” The council’s business support programme matches supply and demand of job and business opportunities, offers bespoke advice and guidance to existing businesses and supports businesses seeking international opportunities. The programme was developed in partnership with RCP21, South Elmsall Town Council and South Kirkby and Moorthorpe Town Council.
7 issue 1 autumn 2013
The Hepworth Wakefield has been shortlisted for the Large Visitor Attraction of the Year in the White Rose Awards. The outcome of the Yorkshire scheme will be announced on 11 November, with winners of each category going forward to next year’s VisitEngland national tourism award.
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City Region to invest
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Projects in Wakefield are in line for a share of a multimillion investment fund, which has been set up to kickstart large-scale, asset-based developments, to create jobs and stimulate economic growth. The Revolving Investment Fund (RIF) will be made up of an initial £10 million contributed by the 10 Leeds City Region (LCR) councils, as part of the city deal signed last September. Eligible projects are those that will need minimum investment of over £1 million and have private sector funding to invest alongside the loan – adding £3 for every £1 put in by councils. With principal loans and interest being paid back over five years, investment for other
Potential investment in 10 years for Leeds City Region
£400
8
million
issue 1 autumn 2013
20 million shoppers visit Trinity Walk Shoppers have made more than 20 million visits to Wakefield’s Trinity Walk shopping centre since it opened in May 2011. The 51,000sq m centre – which is owned by joint developers AREA Property Partners, Sovereign Land and Shepherd Construction – reached this milestone well before it had been open for two years. Being one of only three shopping centres that opened in 2011, at the height of the recession, the centre has defied failing high street spending to sustain footfall, retailer and leasing performance. In the past year, Trinity
Walk has welcomed big brands, including outdoor clothing retailer, Trespass; KRCS, the UK’s longest established Apple reseller; and most recently, optician Vision Express. These join a retail line-up that includes leading brands such as Debenhams, Wakefield’s first modern department store. Sovereign Land CEO Chris Geaves said: “Reaching 20 million shopper visits before Trinity Walk’s second birthday was a great achievement for the team, as well as for Wakefield as a city. The figure underlines the fact that Trinity Walk has successfully transformed shopping in Wakefield, allowing it to return to its rightful place – a major regional retail destination.”
projects will be freed up. This could result in up to £400 million going into key parts of the region’s economy over the next 10 years, when combined with private sector investment. RIF will support schemes, mostly in housing, commercial and construction sectors, which might have secured loans in the past but now struggle for investment. Projects will have to show that they can create jobs, add to the regional economy or help support the growth of low-carbon industries. Peter Box, leader of Wakefield council and chair of the LCR leaders board, said: "Through this fund, we are looking to create an avenue for developers and business in the region to work with the public sector to fill gaps in funding and boost development, jobs and growth. This is a call to investors to come forward with schemes and see how we can help.”
Wakefield Council is working in partnership through Leeds City Region with BT to secure a £21.96 million contract to transform broadband speeds for homes and businesses.
Council leader Peter Box said: “Wakefield has excellent transport links but, like most of the UK, needs major improvement in its telecommunications infrastructure. This is why this project is a council priority. Businesses need better
Superfast broadband for 13,200 homes and businesses from
2,014 onwards
broadband to support their growth and progress." Council chief executive Joanne Roney said: “Better broadband will help business gain new clients, do things faster, as well as increase their productivity and innovation."
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superfast web
Prime location
Civil engineering and utilities contractor Peter Duffy began work in June on the redevelopment of the Welbeck Household Waste Recycling Centre in Normanton. The project is part of the Wakefield Waste PFI, a joint venture between Kier and Shanks. Completion is expected during autumn.
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30 new jobs for 99p A discount store that has opened in Wakefield’s shopping centre, The Ridings, has brought 30 new jobs to the city. The 99p store covers 7,000sq ft and was given a £250,000 makeover ahead of its opening. Barbara Winston, centre manager for The Ridings, told the Wakefield Express: “The 99p store is a great addition to the centre and is another reason for shoppers to visit. There is such a variety of retailers within The Ridings, including leading fashion retailers, homeware stores and unique craft shops.”
The name’s bond... Businesses in Wakefield are set to benefit from a bondholder scheme – an initiative to generate greater profile and encourage inward investment from outside the district. Companies will pay a fixed contribution to the Diamond Scheme, which will develop a marketing, promotion and PR strategy for Wakefield and the five towns. Members will enjoy benefits such as marketing support and promotional offers.
Peter Box, leader of Wakefield Council, said: “The Diamond Scheme is a great example of how private and public sector businesses can work together to create initiatives that will benefit the city and district.” Mark Ridgway, MD of Joseph Rhodes, said: “We need businesses to understand that we all need to support the scheme for it to work. We genuinely believe that we can encourage greater inward investment and profile for the city and the five towns.”
issue 1 autumn 2013
Recycling redevelopment
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Taylor Wimpey reports a surge of interest in its Wakefield developments, with an increase in reservations and viewings since the government launched its Help to Buy scheme. Anne Bagshaw, sales and marketing director, says Taylor Wimpey's city developments “appeal to families and couples at every stage of the property ladder”, with eligible house-hunters able to apply for a 20% government loan towards a mortgage. She said homes at the Pipers Green development in Crigglestone were generating brisk local interest. The 58-home Foxfield Park scheme in New Sharlston opened in 2011 and is now entering its final stages, with only a limited selection of four and five-bedroom homes remaining. Bagshaw added: "Wakefield holds all of the benefits of being located close to Yorkshire’s major hub cities, while offering prospective buyers the opportunity to live in a friendly and thriving community.”
In the two years since it opened, Wakefield shoppers have made more than 20 million visits to Trinity Walk Shopping Centre. It’s not hard to see why. The project has transformed shopping in Wakefield and returned the city to its rightful place as a regional retail destination. WHAT MAKES IT SO GOOD? • city centre location • access directly off the inner ring road and easy to get to • parking for 1,000 vehicles • next to the bus station • contemporary design, light and airy with wide malls AND MOST IMPORTANTLY • really great shopping • Wakefield’s only modern department store •
one of the largest in the area • 50+ top retail brands • a range of restaurants & cafés including
www.trinitywalk.com
quality of life
access all areas
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11 issue 1 autumn 2013
wakefield has been a prosperous market town and inland port since the 19th century – its success founded on the corn trade. With an abundance of coal deposits, the city developed during the Industrial Revolution. And now, developments create new neighbourhoods in this popular place to live words colin marrs
quality of life connect wakefield
ow, as in the past, Wakefield’s location is its main asset. While the area’s canal and river network once allowed inhabitants to trade their wares freely, the area currently sits on to the intersection of two major motorways – the M1 and M62. Such a location is ideal for many major firms, providing great employment opportunities for locals in turn. ProLogis Wakefield Europort has the advantage of both road and rail connections. The 89-ha estate is home to a number of national and multi-national firms including Warburtons, Asda, Royal Mail, TK Maxx, Argos, K+N and Wickes. The 97-ha Calder Park, off junction 39 of the M1, is expanding its offer to include office accommodation just four miles from the city centre. In addition to the extensive road network, the area is also well served by rail services with two train stations – Kirkgate and Westgate. Wakefield sits on the mainline from Bradford to London and is just five minutes away from the major commercial centre of Leeds, making it an ideal commuting location. Andy Wallhead, Wakefield Council's corporate director of regeneration and economic growth, says: "Wakefield’s favourable location offers many opportunities for residents and businesses and we have attracted a huge amount of inward investment in recent years. It is often more affordable than other areas nearby and yet offers a wealth of cultural and leisure opportunities, as well as a fantastic quality of life." Independent Wakefield estate agent Richard Kendall says that business is booming, with a significant rise
in his quarterly profits of 18% over the same period last year. He echoes Wallhead's positive view of the area as a place to live: “We are seeing the property market start to move again and Wakefield is benefiting, due to its quality of life. It is actually easier to commute to the centre of Leeds from here than it is from a lot of outlying areas of the city itself.” Another benefit of the area is the quality of life. According to Wallhead, one in five of the population lives within three miles of open countryside. And that countryside has been transformed in recent years. A number
wakefield offers a wealth of cultural and leisure facilities andy wallhead, wakefield council
of the redundant collieries which scarred the landscape have been transformed into country parks. These have now joined up with existing countryside retreats, which offer ample relaxation opportunities for ramblers, horse riders, cyclists and fishing enthusiasts. And another former colliery site, located next to Castleford, is now home to Xscape Yorkshire – a major entertainment destination which hosts one of the UK’s few indoor real snow slopes. Other attractions include a 14 screen multiplex cinema, indoor surf venue and a skate
12 issue 1 autumn 2013
Castleford Growth Delivery Plan
In 2008, Castleford was the focus of a major Channel Four documentary series hosted by Kevin McCloud, which followed the progress of a town centre regeneration project. Last year, four years on, Wakefield Council produced a strategy to build on the project’s success. The Castleford Growth Delivery Plan is aimed at co-ordinating private sector investment to continue improving
the town centre as well as delivering more than 3,000 new homes and more than 2,000 jobs. The strategy includes five priorities: infrastructure; jobs and investment; residential growth; green space and heritage improvements; and town centre regeneration. Much of the focus for new development is on former industrial sites running alongside the River Aire.
Above LEFT The 1,300-home, 17-ha Navigation Point scheme. ABOVE The awardwinning Castleford footbridge over the River Aire.
Kate Thompson, senior development manager in regeneration at Wakefield Council, says: “Like many industrial towns, Castleford was built with its back to the river. This project will help open up this space to the public.” Work has started on the first phase of the ambitious Navigation Point scheme, to build 1,300 new homes on a 17-ha site adjacent to the river Aire. A feasibility study is under way to upgrade road infrastructure across the growth corridor. A new library and museum will open in the town centre and funding bids are being prepared to redevelop the old Allinson’s flour mill into a cultural and heritage destination. Thompson says: “People are always going to commute to Leeds from Castleford but we aim to give residents housing choice, and attract new residents through more employment opportunities in the town itself.”
quality of life
LEFT Xscape Yorkshire attractions include an indoor surf venue and skate park. BELOW Wakefield's famous Hepworth Wakefield gallery.
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13 issue 1 autumn 2013
quality of life connect wakefield
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park. Xscape opened in 2003 and now employs more than 1,000 people. Set amid the grounds of an 18th century estate, the world-renowned, 202-ha Yorkshire Sculpture Park hosts pieces from international sculptors. The location is described by the Financial Times as “probably the finest exhibition site for sculpture in the world”. And a report released in 2011 revealed that the facility is worth more than £5 million to the local economy each year. Wakefield’s link to sculpture doesn’t end there. In 2011, the town saw the opening of the Hepworth Wakefield gallery, named in honour of the town’s most famous daughter and one of the UK’s best known sculptors, Barbara Hepworth. Designed by prestigious architect David Chipperfield, it was voted the coolest gallery in the UK by MSN Travel. Council leader Peter Box CBE says it is a “world class facility that has put Wakefield on the map”. The area’s education sector boasts some of the north of England’s top performing independent schools. In the Further Education sector, the highly successful Wakefield College was recently rated ‘outstanding’ or ‘good’ in 22 of the 23 areas in which it was assessed by Ofsted. And things are set to get even better with plans for a university centre aimed at boosting the skills sought by employers. The college will work with six key industry sectors and the council with the aim of retaining more university-age students in the area, with spending power which contributes to the area's economic development.
issue 1 autumn 2013
there is a lot going for the city – it is a nice place to live david wells, muse developments
In a visible sign of Wakefield’s renaissance, both train stations are currently being rebuilt. And developer Muse, with help from government funding, has recently provided a new city centre commercial quarter, including 66 new urban apartments, Mulberry House at Merchant Gate (see right). Development director at Muse, David Wells, says: “There is a lot going for the city – it is a nice place to live, and the council is very proactive in making sure things get done in regenerating the place.” John Gladwyn is development manager at Greenhaven Homes, the firm behind the massive Navigation Point scheme which is opening up the riverside in Castleford (see right). He believes that any stigma about living in the area’s former industrial communities disappeared a long time ago. “The character of Castleford and other towns in Wakefield district is rapidly changing and people are realising the value on offer here. There has been a great leap forward in the past ten years.” With so much to offer and much more to come, it is no wonder that a feeling of confidence is surging among local developers. Jim Wren, chief executive of Strata Homes, says: “There is a lot of employment coming into Wakefield and people are praising the area again. You can buy as cheaply as you can rent here, so why wouldn’t you invest in a new, quality home?”
did you know?
00%
Lakes and wetlands left as part of Wakefield’s mining legacy have become some of the most important areas in West Yorkshire for wintering birds and wildfowl
The population of Wakefield district is 325,800 (2011 census) making it the 18th largest local authority in England and Wales A total of £13.3 million is being spent on redeveloping Wakefield’s Westgate and Kirkgate train stations 70% of Wakefield district is designated as green belt Wakefield is famous for being part of the rhubarb triangle and holds a festival of food, drink and rhubarb every year Internationally renowned sculptors Henry Moore and Barbara Hepworth were both born in the Wakefield district The Hepworth Wakefield, designed by David Chipperfield Architects, has had 903,000 visitors between opening in May 2011 and August 2013 – the largest gallery built outside London in the past 50 years
in the pipeline New East Wakefield An urban extension of more than 2,500 homes and employment land to the east of Wakefield city centre. Early phases of new homes by Miller Homes, Grantley Developments and Stretton Developments, who work together on this scheme as City Fields Consortium. Pipers Green A 252-home development in Durkar, Crigglestone, by Taylor Wimpey, of two-bedroom apartments and three, four and five-bedroom houses. Foxfield Park A 58-home scheme by Taylor Wimpey in New Sharlston opened in 2011. Instinct A development of 132 one, two, three and fourbedroom, upmarket Georgian-style homes by Strata Homes in the rural village of Ackworth. Girnhill Lane A 224-home development of quality two, three and four-bedroom houses by Strata at Featherstone. Navigation Point Greenhaven Homes plans 1,300 homes in this riverside scheme in Castleford. The first phase of 279 homes was granted permission in late 2012. Mulberry House A block of 66 one and two-bedroom apartments built as part of Muse Developments’ Merchant Gate mixed-use regeneration scheme in Wakefield town centre (pictured above). Frickley South Elmsall scheme of 190 homes overlooking the new country park, to be built by Keepmoat Homes. Silkwood Gate On the outskirts of Wakefield, a development of 285 one to four-bedroom units by Barratt Homes and four and five-bedroom detached homes by David Wilson Homes. Barratt is building 620 new homes in the Wakefield area during the second half of 2013, including 252 in two Pontefract developments.
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architecture
Grand designs
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Alongside Victorian architecture and heritage industrial buildings, Wakefield's contemporary architecture is designed by internationally renowned companies, national names and local practices words pamela buxton
16 issue 1 autumn 2013 the awardwinning castleford bridge The S shape is designed to follow the contours of the weir.
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17 issue 1 autumn 2013
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19 issue 1 autumn 2013
Castleford Bridge Renato Benedetti Partner, McDowell + Benedetti
“The bridge does more than we’d expected, which is gratifying. Everyone in the town loves it. They’ve taken it to their hearts, and it is quite rare for architects to get such lovely feedback. It took five years – two years of gestation to get everyone supporting it and find the funding, then three years while we changed sites and designed and built the bridge on budget. It was always our intention to use the bridge to bring the
focus of the town back to the river as an asset. The design principle was that the bridge should be as much about sitting and enjoying the experience of the river, as about crossing it. And a lot of people do use it as a public space – it’s four metres wide and you see people eating their lunch and using it as a meeting place and a landmark.
because we wanted to have a slower pace since it would be used by young families. Therefore we could have a balustrade that was 1.1m rather than 1.4m high, which made it much easier to design a slender, minimal bridge. We hoped it would be a catalyst for regeneration and it has been. We’re now working in Castleford again at Queens Mill
everyone in the town loves it There are four, 20 metre-long benches so you can easily sit 100 people on it. The S shape of the bridge follows the contours of the weir. Cycling across it isn’t allowed
on the town side of the bridge. This huge Victorian mill has been bought by Castleford Heritage Trust, and we‘re turning it into a cultural [facility], healthy living and education centre.”
above Castleford Bridge is a well used public space, meeting place and landmark.
architecture
Wakefield One Andrew May Project director, Cartwright Pickard Architects
“Wakefield One places a 21st century building right next to a 100-year-old, Grade I-listed building. It was important that our building be unapologetically new, but also a neighbour so it looks like it belongs in terms of scale. It feels right in that location. The outside is clad in unfinished natural terracotta tiles with glazed tiles in rich colours in the deep reveals inspired by stained glass in the original connect wakefield
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County Hall. The reveals provide solar shading and gave us something to play with – as you move around the building, you see the colours more strongly the more oblique the angle gets. This building embodies a number of design principles that have been inherent in our
below The Wakefield One building embodies a number of design principles.
we kept things simple practice. In particular, we kept things simple – Wakefield One has a simple form but the interest and richness of the building comes about through the use of good materials which will weather well. It takes a lot of work to keep things this simple when you’re
dealing with a complex brief. A simple approach can reap benefits in terms of flexibility – the upper and lower ground floor spaces we delivered are being used for a variety of public-facing uses such as a museum, cafe and library. It also allowed us to focus attention where it matters – good materials that look good and feel good in areas that people see and use everyday. It was important to be responsible, environmentally and financially. Wakefield One is a modest building in many ways, providing a good environment for the people who use it, while keeping energy use down. It is appropriately dignified.”
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Oliver Ulmer Project director, David Chipperfield Architects
“We’re really happy to have created a building that isn’t just technically and architecturally successful but has also been taken up so well by the public. We had 500,000 visitors in the first year when the expectation was for 150,000, and visitor numbers have held up well since then. It has been nice to see how people have really engaged with the building and its exhibitions. It was a challenging project at times. The starting point was the existing art gallery in Wakefield, which had collections organised in groups
of chronological order. With the new building, our job was to organise these groups in a logical sequence, together with new facilities and improvements in the way the museum would work, all on a riverfront site close to former industrial buildings. We wanted to replicate the immediacy these buildings had with the water – so it seems the gallery dips its toes into the river on one side – while also dealing with the flooding risk to the site.
durability. It doesn’t just have a flat appearance but has a depth – it’s coloured and changes according to climatic conditions. Our desire was to introduce views and daylight into the galleries to help visitor orientation. Because we had knowledge of the collections in advance, we could work out the light strategy in detail, introducing daylight through roof lights to make sure the amount and quality of light would be adequate for artworks,
above Monolithic – the angled and robust Hepworth Wakefield Gallery.
the gallery dips its toes into the river The overall appearance is of an agglomeration of individual blocks that appear monolithic. We chose concrete because it could be moulded to the angles and shapes we had in mind, and it also has a robustness and
and knowing where we could be more or less generous. We really enjoyed doing this project. Its success is not just down to the technical team but to a very engaged and courageous client.”
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Hepworth Gallery
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wakefield east Adrian Spawforth Partner, Spawforths
issue 1 autumn 2013
“We deal with the macro, working with local authorities to assemble large-scale urban sites such as Wakefield East, and get them allocated within the Local Development Framework, right down to the finer grain of designing individual buildings. We design a lot of primary care centres such as the King’s Medical Centre in Normanton, which has made a really positive contribution to the town centre. Here we worked with the council to find a good location – it was a curved site on a steep slope but we like a challenge. Now we’re looking to expand it. Often we are playing a long game – we’ve been involved with Wakefield East for the last five years and the masterplan is now complete, although the whole project will take around 15 years to build. With Wakefield East, there was a requirement for housing in the area. Rather than have pockets of incremental growth, it was decided to have one large, strategic plan to expand the city eastwards including the development of the long-awaited Wakefield Eastern Relief Road. This will open up around two and a half kilometres of waterfront as well as providing in the region of 2,500 homes, and employment opportunities. Wakefield East is a £500 million-plus project. At the other end of the scale, we recently completed the Rural Crafts Workshops in Newmillerdam, for the Pennine Camphill Community, for around £300,000. This has a figure-ofeight shape with a cedar shingle roof, and has won a number of local and national awards. The Spawforth family has been in the Wakefield area since 1760, so I have strong ties to the city. It is nice to have had a bit of influence on its development over the 25 years that the company has been established here.”
above and right The Rural Crafts Workshops have won local and national awards.
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project update masterplans for major schemes, developments under way, opportunity sites earmarked for regeneration
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Navigation Point
Below, left to right Riverside living at affordable prices in Castleford's Navigation Point.
is supported by the HCA, will have a civic square, play areas, eco park, community shop and riverside bar/restaurant. Developer Greenhaven Homes – thanks to a £2.5 million loan through the Get Britain Building programme – has just completed 66 of the first phase of 279 homes, for which it has detailed planning permission. Eventually the development will comprise 1,300 homes. Ranging from £90,000 to £200,000, the new homes will be eligible for Help to Buy, and were built by local contractor Strategic Team Group.
27 issue 1 autumn 2013
Castleford town centre has already seen around £9 million of investment in regeneration, the highlight being a multi-award-winning footbridge spanning the River Aire. In 2012 the council launched a growth delivery plan to unlock the economic potential of the town, and act as a catalyst for the next stages of regeneration by creating a supportive environment, encouraging private sector investment to generate more than 2,000 jobs and 3,000 new
homes during the next 20 years, building on the town's retail offer. Projects under way include phase one of the Navigation Point residential development next to the River Aire, and over £4 million investment into new public transport infrastructure. Navigation Point is within walking distance of the town centre, on the site of the former Lambson chemical works. It will be the first housing in the town to take full advantage of the peaceful banks of the rivers Aire and Calder. As well as 900m of river frontage, the development, which
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Wakefield city Centre – the civic Quarter Preservation of Georgian and Victorian buildings will be a feature of the masterplan.
issue 1 autumn 2013
connect wakefield
The Civic Quarter sits in the core of Wakefield’s historic city centre, and includes notable listed Victorian civic buildings, an elegant terrace of Georgian buildings and a stone-fronted Edwardian public building. Wakefield Council is drawing up a masterplan to regenerate this important quarter, while preserving the architectural and historical character of the area. Improvements have already been made to the public spaces, roads and landscaping around the war memorial and County Hall, to create the infrastructure for the future developments, and the council supported Wakefield College’s redevelopment programme and conversion of the old museum building. Wakefield Council owns a number of buildings in the area and to enable the scheme to progress, is acquiring other key properties, including the old police station which is due to become vacant in 2014.
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Civic Quarter
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Merchant Gate
issue 1 autumn 2013
The seven-hectare Merchant Gate development in Wakefield’s city centre, next to the Grade I-listed County Hall, has already seen £70 million of investment on phases one and two. New buildings include Wakefield One,
South Kirkby Business Park Here, a former colliery is being transformed into a business park, green open space and a £750 million hi-tech waste plant. Under a 25-year PFI deal with Wakefield Council – with infrastructure financed by the Green Investment Bank – Shanks will build a residual waste treatment facility processing up to 230,000 tonnes a year from homes in Wakefield. The facility will segregate recyclable materials – metals, some plastics, aggregates and glass – then sort the remaining waste into both refuse-derived fuel, which will go to a multi-fuel plant being developed by SSE at Ferrybridge (see page 33), and organic waste.
which brings together council offices, a museum and a library under one roof. As well as highquality office space for 1,200 council employees and a public atrium and cafe, the scheme has also delivered 66 contemporary one and two-bedroom apartments surrounding a public space, 3,150sq m of retail and leisure development and a 1,500-
The organic waste will be fed into an anaerobic digestion plant, which converts it into gas for renewable energy generation, and a digestate. It is estimated that the new facility will generate enough electricity to be able to power up to 3,000 homes. In total, Shanks estimates that the 90% of the waste fed into the facility will be recovered and recycled, with the remaining 10% sent to landfill. At a separate on-site materials recycling facility, mixed recyclables collected from Wakefield’s households will be sorted. Green waste will be processed at an enclosed composting facility, and the compost produced mainly used for improving land remediation schemes across Wakefield.
State-ofthe-art The third phase of Merchant Gate features a new railway station.
space multi-storey car park. Phase three is on site and construction began in January 2013 on a state-of-the-art rail station, with high-speed connections to London, opening up a new site with huge potential. The current station site will be available in spring 2014 and is set to include a high quality hotel and leisure development.
Black to Green New recycling facilities are being developed on a former colliery.
The facilities will help to increase Wakefield Council's recycling rate to 52% minimum (from 39.3% in 2011/12). The project will boost economic growth, creating around 250 jobs as part of the construction and refurbishment. An additional 60 jobs will be created.
Groundbreaking work has begun.
Shanks starts construction on its main facility as part of the £750m contract with Wakefield Council to revolutionise waste management in the District. Shanks’ newest facility at South Kirkby in Wakefield is to achieve circa 90% diversion from landfill. Over 250 people will be employed during construction. Circa 60 permanent positions will be created when the site is fully completed in Autumn 2015.
Autumn 2015 Website: www.shanks-wakefield.co.uk Email: wakefield@shanks.co.uk
projects
Knottingley and Ferrybridge
Power generation and regeneration The former Oxiris chemical works will be the site for a power station, new homes and more employment.
Prince of Wales The 31-ha former Prince of Wales colliery, right on the M62, was until 2002, producing 1.5 million tonnes of coal a year. The site is now being regenerated by Harworth Estates into a mixed-use development with housing, employment opportunities and a range of benefits for local people. The former pit yard on the site has planning consent for 917 homes and 21,150sq m of employment development, along with retail units, cafes, a medical centre, community
centre, nursery and parkland. Construction of the first homes is expected to begin in 2014. Harworth Estates, working with partners including Wakefield Council, plans to begin
Prince of Wales pit site Homes, jobs, community facilities – and a country park.
Growth Fund and S106 funding, which will ease congestion and enable diversion of heavy goods vehicle traffic from Ferrybridge centre, securing a future location of 40 ha for employment and investment in the energy sector. The same funding will also deliver £200,000 of environmental improvements in Ferrybridge Square. Works were expected to start on site at Dish Hill in late summer 2013 and in Ferrybridge Square by September, with completion scheduled before the end of the year.
remediation work in the near future, to allow this to happen. The former spoil heap will become a new country park, providing public open space for the community. It will also provide the engineered road corridor for the proposed Northern Relief Road, a critical piece of infrastructure for the future growth of Pontefract. Remediation work on this part of the site began in mid-2013, involving the extraction of over 3.5 million tonnes from the spoil heap and lagoons. The dried coal is then taken to nearby coal-fired power stations to generate electricity.
33 issue 1 autumn 2013
crested newts living at the site. Other local projects include a multi-fuel power station at Ferrybridge, a £300 million joint venture between between Scottish and Southern (SSE) and US firm Wheelabrator Technologies. The 68MW plant will burn processed waste. Construction is under way, creating 300 jobs over three years, plus more than 50 full-time jobs that will be needed once the plant is fully operational. Also at Ferrybridge is the creation of Dish Hill Roundabout, thanks to £1.6 million Regional
connect wakefield
Wakefield Council’s vision for Knottingley and Ferrybridge is to see these areas transformed into economically successful, thriving communities over the next 20 years, incorporating new housing and vibrant town centres, in a green environment with excellent transport links. At the heart of the plans is development of a 40-ha industrial site, the former Oxiris chemical works, into a housing and power-generation scheme. Knottingley Power is proposing a £750 million, 1,500MW gas-fired power station, generating enough electricity to power around two million homes. The projects would provide 1,100 jobs at the height of construction and 50 permanent jobs. Plans were due to be submitted to the Planning Inspectorate in autumn 2013. St Paul's Developments is preparing to start remediation works and construction of highway infrastructure, both of which have secured Growing Places Funding. The draft masterplan proposes housing and employment next to the power station, together with improved links to the Aire and Calder Navigation and potential for leisure development. Work is under way to relocate great
projects connect wakefield
34
Calder Park This 97-ha business park, with a dedicated 40-ha nature reserve, just off Junction 39 of the M1, is the fastest growing business park in Yorkshire, with a lower density of development than any commercial park in the region, it also meets the highest national environmental standards. Calder Park has detailed planning consent for up to 139,355sq m of bespoke office accommodation in units from 929sq m to 9,290sq m, which can be tailored to suit the occupier’s requirements. The 2,899sq m Osprey House could be let as a selfcontained office building. All the units will be clad in a combination of Yorkshire
green space work place Low density development at Calder Park meets the highest environmental standards.
stone and metallic panels, with impressive reception areas and generous car parking. Amenities on-site include the Swan and Cygnet and Red Kite pubs, a new petrol filling station development with Starbucks, Subway and Spar outlets.
issue 1 autumn 2013
One of the first 50 areas to be chosen for Big Local Trust funding from the Big Lottery, Warwick estate was allocated £1 million to be invested between 2011 and 2021. Warwick Ahead is developing a three-year community plan by launching a series of interest groups focusing on poverty and wealth, community well-being, children and young people, and transport, environment and safety, while the community board is planning to prioritise the spending on their chosen areas: community facilities, reducing debt, transport, and a clean and safe environment. The board is also looking into setting up a credit union. Yorkshire Housing is developing 28 affordable homes
Following the relocation of Girnhill Lane residents from their outdated 1950s housing estate, a masterplan was drawn up to improve the retail offer, enhance public realm, expand housing and improve transport. Planning consent was granted in December 2011 for 233 new homes in an exemplar development designed to the Code for Sustainable Homes Level 3. Fifty-six of these would be for rent and shared ownership and 177 for private sale. Work will start on-site this autumn. Homebuilder Strata has also had its planning application approved for 224 homes at the estate, which includes a mix of two, three and fourbedroom homes, following
on two schemes – the former Walbottle Hotel and Hazel Road, part funded through the Homes and Communities Agency. Half of the properties will be for social rent and half for 80% of market rent. Construction commenced in autumn 2012 and the Walbottle project, scheduled for completion in November 2013, is actually expected to be finished by late summer. Hazel Road is due to complete in September. At Hill Top, Leeds Metropolitan University is helping the council with urban design and an action plan to identify short, medium and longer-term initiatives to promote this central amenity area as the town centre of the Knottingley area and improve connections to the surrounding neighbourhoods.
Wakefield East Architect Spawforths has drawn up a masterplan to create a sustainable eastern expansion of Wakefield. It aims to deliver social, environmental and economic benefits and improve the quality of life for residents. The masterplan includes 2,500 dwellings plus leisure and retail uses. It proposes a new road and junction, 19 ha of employment space, a primary school, health facilities, district and neighbourhood centres, civic spaces, located alongside 2km
of water frontage, with parkland and open space. The site is within walking distance of retail and community facilities, job opportunities and public transport facilities. The first phase is at the northern end of City Fields, next to two Grade II-listed buildings and a hospice, and will include 350 homes, public open space, landscaping and drainage, and part of the Wakefield East Relief Road. Miller Homes was due to submit a planning application in autumn, after public consultation.
35 issue 1 autumn 2013
Warwick estate will receive big lottery £1 million from between 2011 and 2021
the national design standards Code for Sustainable Homes level 3, Building for Life Silver and ‘secured by design’ accreditation. Strata plans to start on-site later this year. A gateway to the site has also been improved through enhanced surface treatments and provision of parking supported by a Regional Growth Fund grant. The town centre has also been improved, with new public art installed and 20 further affordable houses, which are being developed by Wakefield District Housing. The Ninelakes Community Trust is drawing up a masterplan for a major leisure and recreation area, stretching from Featherstone to Newmillerdam, linked by trails, with a gateway centre at Featherstone.
connect wakefield
Featherstone
projects
Warwick estate
connectivity connect wakefield
36
Time travel
issue 1 autumn 2013
well connected and centrally located in the UK, Wakefield attracts employers across several sectors – and major investment is likely, with five cities working together words James Wood
ome to some of the UK’s most vibrant and dynamic places to live, work and visit, the cities of Yorkshire also benefit from excellent connectivity. Wakefield is reached from London in just under two hours by train and is a short distance from other Yorkshire magnets such as Leeds, Sheffield, Bradford, York – only a stone’s throw from the M1 and M62 motorway networks. And links could get even better, if proposals for a new enitity to manage investment of £1.5 billion in west Yorkshire’s transport and economic infrastructure are agreed. This would include significant funding devolved from Whitehall as part of the Leeds City Region Deal. If government gives final approval, from 2014 the West Yorkshire Combined Authority will accelerate economic growth through a joint approach to strategic investment and transport. The Integrated Transport Authority and all five councils – Bradford, Calderdale, Kirklees, Leeds and Wakefield districts – agree on the plans. Wakefield Council leader, Peter Box CBE, says: “We are another step closer to ensuring that decisions made about this district are made here – not in Whitehall – by the people who will work hard to create real economic opportunities for Wakefield residents and our local businesses.
“We will use our local knowledge to get resources to the areas that need them most, securing a better economic future for the district.” Connectivity is already good by rail, air and road. Wakefield Westgate rail station is served by CrossCountry, Northern Rail and East Midlands companies. Commuters benefit from short train journeys to major cities across the country, with Birmingham and Newcastle two hours away and Manchester reached in one and a half and hours. Industry is a key feature of the local economy, as the city and its districts are a prime location in the food and drink manufacturing sector, along with logistics and advanced manufacturing. For international travel, Leeds Bradford International Airport (LBIA) is just 19 miles to the north of Wakefield at Yeadon. The airport has undergone more than 80 years of development, most recently with Monarch Airlines operations base having opened in March 2013. The link to London Heathrow offers onward travel to the rest of the globe – which is essential to foreign investors – and British Airways operates four flights a day on this route. In 2004, the airport published a 10-year masterplan, which is seeing the expansion of the terminal building, additional parking areas, new airfield equipment and a hotel and office space. LBIA operators fly to 30 countries worldwide, set to increase as more airlines establish a base at the airport, as Ryanair did in 2009. With relatively low property values and other major cities just a short ride away, Wakefield’s connectivity marks the city out as a viable and competitive place for businesses to locate.
PARTNERS GROUP JOINING TOGETHER TO SUPPORT WAKEFIELD
CONNECT WAKEFIELD
37 ISSUE 1 AUTUMN 2013
Calder Park Kirsty Taylor ktaylor@peel.co.uk
Coca-Cola Enterprises Serena Taylor seltaylor@cokecce.com
Group Rhodes Mark Ridgway mark.ridgway@grouprhodes.co.uk
Navigation Point Harvard Engineering Haribo John Gladwyn Russell Fletcher Emma Lupton emma.lupton@opencomms.co.uk russellfletcher@harvardeng.com john.gladwyn@amenbury.co.uk The Nostell Estate Stephen Fuller fuller@thenostellestate.com
Riverside Steve Ward steve.ward@riverside.org.uk
education & skills connect wakefield
38 issue 1 autumn 2013
business class a new approach to education and skills in Wakefield aims to improve student prospects while aligning provision with business needs. A new world-class facility on the horizon is poised to raise skills across the district, boosting Wakefield’s economy in turn words suruchi sharma
hen David Cameron visited the Coca-Cola plant at Junction 41 Industrial Park in Wakefield in April 2010, it was safe to assume that his mind was focused on winning the impending election campaign. In May last year, as prime minister, he backed another campaign to bang the drum of support to create a university in the city. These comments were welcomed by Wakefield Council’s leader Peter Box, who hopes he can “raise aspirations” in Wakefield by bringing this long-held dream to fruition. The foundations for the proposed new
Business University Centre are strong as partnerships have been forged between the council and Wakefield College over the years. Now the two institutions are branching out and extending their vision to employers and businesses. Sam Wright has been the college’s principal for two and a half years and welcomes the changes ahead. She says: “We have a great relationship with the local authority and I really think Wakefield is quite a hidden gem. The council has been so proactive in the regeneration of the area and looking at its achievements to date, you realise the university centre is the next step. It will really give something special to our community.” The centre is scheduled to open in 2015 as the main players now consider where in the city it would be best located. Wright says: “We’re exploring different sites with the council and one thought is to have it on an existing site. A decision has not been made but we’re looking at a number of venues in city centre locations.” With the job market proving increasingly frustrating for first time workers, the college will focus the courses on
did you know?
80%
of the fresh meat supplied to schools is reared and processed within Yorkshire and Humber, and 68% of the fresh fruit and vegetables are sourced from Yorkshire and Lancashire
Wakefield College hosts almost 15,000 students
opposite Inspirational learning at the Horbury Academy, Wakefield. LEFT The Backstage Academy, "leading the way" for training in the creative industries. RIGHT Chemical reaction at Horbury.
39 issue 1 autumn 2013
A-level pass rates at Wakefield College have been above 95% for the past six years
connect wakefield
In 2013, 66% of Wakefield pupils taking GCSEs achieved five or more passes at grades A*-C including English and maths
develop through the different stages whether it’s primary or secondary and essentially it’s all about squirreling away those skills for employers.” Working closely with the council is the industry-led training centre Backstage Academy. The academy, as the first foundation business partner for the new university centre, already leads the way in directly catering for employers in the creative industries. Robin Watkinson, co-founder and director of courses, started the institution with friend Adrian Brooks in July 2009 after working together when he was a theatre and production manager at the University of Leeds. He says: “Adrian popped down one day and we got chatting and ending up bemoaning the woeful state of training. We were horrified to find there were so many people who were directly unemployable after completing a few years of degree level education. “There are so many students finishing degree courses with the wrong expectations of what jobs they are going to start. Somebody who has a degree in stage management isn’t necessary qualified to manage a stage, so for us the first thing is about making sure the students leave with the right expectations of where they can progress to. “Secondly, it is about being the right sort of person to be in that environment. There are a lot of personal skills that make somebody employable before you even get to teach them what the job is. It struck us that if you’re going to go into a creative environment and not interact and contribute in a two-way manner then you’re going to always be standing in the corner looking at your feet.” Providing a range of short courses including rigging, manual handling and stage pyrotechnics, the academy also offers a two-year BA in visual production and a foundation degree course in live events production. Robin says: “It’s an interesting time because Wakefield doesn’t have the university yet. You’ve only got to look at the benefits that a city like Leeds has which, I believe, gets an influx of about 125,000 students every year. It is a hugely exciting time for everyone.”
education & skills
enterprise but also on what makes a candidate suitable for employment. Courses will include manufacturing, food and drink, business and professional services and environmental technologies in order to link directly to the needs of industries in the area. Wright says: “It’s our intention to expand what we offer in a meaningful way and develop courses and programmes that ensure students get a well-rounded experience and those all-important employability skills. We intend to really raise the skills across the district, which will, of course, have an effect on Wakefield and its economy.” Schools also focus on skills for work, encouraging pupils to become resourceful, independent learners, such as those attending Horbury Academy (pictured). Mike Denby, Wakefield Council’s skills and business service manager, has been working on ideas, including encouraging businesses to recruit young people through an apprenticeship hub to be launched in September. He says: “Businesses have said that, in their eyes, young people are not quite ready for the job world. People can turn up to an interview a little bit unprepared and will talk confidently about school but might miss some of the other vital skills that employers desire. “This can range from confidence in speaking and other key facets including that spark, that commitment and turning up on time, which sometimes get missed by the curriculum. “I’m very new to the area but already I can see the big steps that Wakefield is making. It’s absolutely fantastic as there is so much happening and the business community is receiving it very well, as it is ready for change.” Denby is also working on an idea to make a skills passport or online digital CV. “We’re at quite an early stage to develop the concept and we’re not going to call it a traditional skills passport as other councils do. It’s going to be a digital solution and similar to LinkedIn where you can endorse your friends with skills and upload videos. “For example, if you play a piano you can put a video up of you performing for a certificate. The initiative will
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words james wood
ne of the UK’s most respected bands, Radiohead (above), are known for their innovative and evolving sound, but also a spectacular stage set and striking visuals. But creating an elaborate show is fraught with danger and tragedy occurred in the summer of 2012 when the stage set collapsed, killing drum technician Scott Johnson. The band were devastated by the loss, but amid the grief and shock, had to deal with practical considerations. Enter Wakefield company LS-Live, with a reputation built over decades in aluminium engineering and structural design. Over a period of three weeks, the company assessed structural damage to the set, re-drew designs and engineered the rebuild of parts of the set – enabling Radiohead to complete their European tour. The first rescheduled show in Les Arènes, the Roman amphitheatre in the southern French city of Nîmes, went ahead as planned, with the stage provided on time and on budget, despite difficult circumstances. General manager at LS-Live, Mark Blount says: “We had mixed feelings about this project. We were very proud of what we had achieved, but Scott Johnson died in that stage collapse; you can mend metal, but that won’t bring him back.”
Many international arena tours benefit from LS-Live’s services, while other UK acts – including Take That, Kasabian, Coldplay and Tinie Tempah – have had stages built. The company was also used for the BBC Radio 1 Hackney Weekend in 2012, headlined by Jay Z. And it's not just stage sets. LS-Live’s Wakefield base incorporates Europe’s largest purpose-built rehearsal arena complex, set over 2,800sq m and used by bands including Elbow, Pulp, Faithless and The Stone Roses, as well as dance troupe, Diversity, winners of Britain’s Got Talent. The company also hires out equipment from turntables to stages. A pioneer of innovation and design, LS-Live also invests in the workforce of the future through its Backstage Academy. This is a training centre offering a wide range of courses for both beginners and experienced professionals in rigging, event safety, stage pyrotechnics and graphics. Tony Gittins, production manager for The Stone Roses, gave a testimony to LS-Live, after putting his crew through the Event Safety Passport course: "Even the more sceptical crew who had been in the industry a long time thought it was worth doing.” LS-Live's managing director Adrian Brooks says: "Wakefield is an exciting place for business right now. As the student community continues to grow with Backstage Academy and LS-Live, it will have a positive effect on the economy here and in particular, our live events industry." An expanding network of industry supporters has established LS-Live as a successful business, local to Wakefield but also working nationally and internationally.
41 issue 1 autumn 2013
Wakefield is home to one of the UK's industry leaders in staging, set construction, equipment rental and the provision of studio space – LS-Live. we find out why it works
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Live & kicking
Civil Engineering, Construction & Utility Services
Supporting Wakefield’s development
E S TA B L I S H E D OVER
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Tel: 01924 871100 Email: enquiries@peterduffyltd.com Web: www.peterduffyltd.com Peter Duffy Limited, Connaught House, Park View, Lofthouse Gate, Wakefield WF3 3HA
employment connect wakefield
43 issue 1 autumn 2013
family affair MAJOR COMPANIES SEEK OUT WAKEFIELD FOR ITS LOCATION, INFRASTRUCTURE AND, CRUCIALLY, ITS RELIABLE, LOYAL AND SKILLED WORKERS. WITH FOOD GIANTS HARIBO AND COCA-COLA ESTABLISHED HERE FOR YEARS, OFTEN EMPLOYING FAMILY MEMBERS FROM SEVERAL GENERATIONS, WAKEFIELD IS PROVING A TASTY CHOICE FOR EMPLOYERS words lucy purdy
employment connect wakefield
44 issue 1 autumn 2013
ocked by revolution – of the industrial variety – and scarred from the closure of its mines, Wakefield has dusted itself off and is now successfully repositioned as a post-industrial, service-driven economy. With around 14,900, or 11%, of the district’s population employed in manufacturing, third only to health and distribution, this success is now helping growth in other sectors. From Warburtons, Coca-Cola Enterprises and Haribo, to the family-owned independent Ossett Brewery, via high street favourite Next and luxury fashion house Burberry, all are proud to be in Wakefield. Established in 1989, the Coca-Cola Enterprises (CCE) Wakefield facility is now the largest soft drinks plant by volume in Europe, producing around 100 million cases of drinks per year, including Coca-Cola, Fanta, Sprite, Oasis, Schweppes and Dr Pepper. With future success always in sight, CCE takes the development of young people seriously, with dedicated on-site education facilities at five of its manufacturing plants, including Wakefield. Ian Johnson, operations director at CCE Wakefield, says: “We aim to make a positive social, economic and environmental contribution to the communities in which we operate. Apprentices are key, allowing us to invest in the youth of today to ensure we have the necessary skills to meet the challenges of tomorrow.” CCE employs qualified teachers to manage the centres and each one has a fully equipped interactive classroom, supporting teachers of business studies, science, ICT, engineering, and design and technology. The UK’s leading gums and jellies brand Haribo – famously craved by the Duchess of Cambridge during her pregnancy – is another familiar name which calls Wakefield home. Originating in Germany, Haribo came to the UK in the early 70s after buying shares in confectionery company Dunhills of Pontefract. By 1994 the firm had acquired all remaining shares and Haribo sweets were being introduced into the UK market. Today Haribo is building upon Pontefract’s rich heritage in confectionery production, employing more than 540 people and producing more than 40,000 tonnes of gums and jellies each year. Haribo has found a rich vein of loyal employees in the area, particularly in Pontefract and Castleford, with many completing 20 or even 40-year stints at the company. Herwig Vennekens, managing director of Haribo, says it’s not uncommon to see multiple generations of the same families working at the plant. “The Wakefield district provides Haribo with a strong infrastructure. Our site in Pontefract is ideally located with strong motorway links, we have a good catchment area for employees and through our partnerships with the district’s recruitment, learning and training companies we are able to develop the skills of our team, which in turn supports the ongoing success of our business.” Another staunch supporter of schemes for apprentices, Haribo launched its first engineering apprenticeships in 2009. Following their success, the company recently introduced a graduate training programme, supporting roles from production and engineering through to sales. These two-year programmes support those fresh from university with little or no work related experience. “There’s something about Wakefield,” says managing director Peter Duffy of the company that bears his name.
RIGHT and middle The Duchess of Cambridge craved Haribo during her pregnancy. The company set up its Wakefield base in the early 1970s. below Peter Duffy's head office at Lofthouse Gate. Far right and previous page Xscape is a major employer in the Wakefield area.
did you know?
41%
of people travel less than 5km to work each day
The size of the employment base ranks Wakefield as the 27th largest local authority in England in terms of jobs 79% of council employees live within the district 5,800 people were working in the district as sole traders, proprietors, partners and directors in 2010 Calder Park is the fastest growing business park in the Yorkshire region
employment connect wakefield
in the wakefield area we are able to recruit friendly staff with great skills Fashion retailer, Next human resources department works closely with Wakefield JobCentre Plus to recruit and then train candidates from the local area. After a six-week training and development programme, successful applicants are offered permanent positions with the firm – and so far, 100% of these staff members have been retained. Retail is another important sector, employing 14,600 – 10.8% – of Wakefield residents. National fashion and homeware giant Next opened its Wakefield Trinity store in May 2011, where it currently employs 78 members of staff.
A spokesman says: “In the Wakefield area we are able to recruit friendly staff with great skills and generally do not struggle with recruitment here, enjoying hundreds of applicants for positions on a regular basis. This is great for us, as with so many people offering impeccable customer service, we can employ local people who are highly skilled. “There is also a great student population in Wakefield and our staff love to return to work for us, when they are not in term time, which shows their loyalty and dedication. There is also a great transport network that allows staff to travel from a little bit further than they would normally be able to.” There is also diversity among Wakefield’s major employers. Celebrating its 10-year anniversary this year is Xscape in Colorado Way, Castleford – billed as the “ultimate family entertainment destination” – which employs around 1,000 people, more in the winter months when the ski season kicks in. Marketing manager Dan Wharton says that accessibility is key, both to the venue’s popularity and in retaining staff: “Xscape is easily accessible via the road networks and there are excellent public service transport links to the centre. The scheme provides a great leisure destination, a mix of leisure, retail, food and drinks, there is something for all age groups at Xscape.” For all large employers, locational advantages are important and well-connected Wakefield fulfils logistical needs. But the story of generations of families working for the same employer – less common in the 21st century than in the past – demonstrates that the workforce is viewed as one of the city’s greatest assets.
45 issue 1 autumn 2013
The civil engineering and utilities contractor, founded in 1972, has its head offices in Lofthouse Gate and an annual turnover of £35 million. It was recently appointed by Kier to work on its contract for the Wakefield Waste PFI scheme. Duffy says: “We support local groups and charities when possible, together with encouraging staff to volunteer and take part in sponsored events where we provide a matching fund for money raised. We recently provided new kit for Castleford Juniors rugby league team, for example.” Peter Duffy now employs more than 415 people across Yorkshire, Northumberland and south Wales, and established its own training programme in order to equip operatives with exactly the skills the firm requires. Its
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arts & culture connect wakefield
47
Many UK cities have one artistic field, but it’s rare to find a place that has a reputation for architecture, theatre, music, art and design. we find that Wakefield has established itself as one of the country’s cultural landmarks words james wood
issue 1 autumn 2013
sound & vision
arts & culture connect wakefield
48 issue 1 autumn 2013
n a time where government purse strings continue to tighten around the neck of public sector funding for the arts in the UK, one local authority bucks the trend. Wakefield Council's approach to retaining its cultural heritage and supporting innovation is dedicated, seeing it invest strategically to consolidate the region as a leading destination for cultural tourism. This is demonstrated by the Creative Partners Grants Scheme, which encourages Wakefield-based organisations to apply for funding, with allocations given based on the innovation of projects and how much of a positive difference they are making to the community. The Art House is one successful applicant. It works under a simple premise: to give developing artists throughout the city the best possible opportunities and access to the materials they need. This is provided through a whole assortment of residencies, exhibitions and business training, offered to aspiring artists including those with disabilities. And there is certainly a wealth of Art House projects running in the city. Wakefield Artwalk sees the organisation working with venues across the area to put on a variety of bi-monthly events, ranging from visual arts and crafts shows to live music performances that occur throughout the year. More exhibition space is provided through the Sites in Sight project, which funds disused space for artists in the city, while a residency programme – called Sometimes – offers selected artists free studio space and support to develop their work. The benefits of the Creative Partners Grant Scheme are significant, according to the Art House’s acting executive director, Angela Galvin. She says: “Wakefield Council's support has a direct impact on the disabled and non-disabled artists we work with and people who visit us. “Council funding helps the Art House shape Wakefield’s creative future by delivering exhibitions and commissioning new work as well as producing events and education activity.” One of the Art House’s significant partnerships is with Hepworth Wakefield, Yorkshire’s contemporary arts museum, which sits on the banks of the River Calder – the “jewel in the crown” of the city’s regeneration. This makes up part of the Yorkshire Sculpture Triangle that incorporates Hepworth Wakefield, Leeds Art Gallery, The Henry Moore Institute and the Yorkshire Sculpture Park, which was recently listed as one of the top three getaways in Time Out London and hailed as: “Probably the finest exhibition site for sculpture in the world," by Bill Packer in the Financial Times. Set over 200-ha of typical Yorkshire parkland, the critically acclaimed park features the work of skillful artists such as Yinka Shonibare MBE, whose Fabric Action exhibition combines sculpture with film, painting, photography and collage. The neighbouring Hepworth Wakefield is the largest art gallery in the country to be built outside London in 50 years, covering 1,600sq m. It acts as an ideal location for the prestigious Pecha Kucha event, organised in partnership with the Art House, which currently runs in 400 cities worldwide, giving artists the opportunity to network
did you know?
Sandal Castle is best known for the Battle of Wakefield which was fought nearby in 1460 during the War of the Roses and in which Richard, Duke of York was killed Culture and sport in Wakefield directly employ more than 2,300 people Yorkshire Sculpture Park in Wakefield attracts about 300,000 visitors per year The Hepworth Wakefield received more than 500,000 visitors in its first year – far exceeding its target of 150,000 – by August 2013, 903,000 people had visited
clockwise from top left Auction for the Promise Club's Zoe White-Chambers at the Clarence Music Festival 2013; inside the Hepworth Wakefield; Yorkshire Sculpture Park; Theatre Royal Wakefield's production of A Kind of Loving.
arts & culture
connect wakefield
49 issue 1 autumn 2013
arts & culture connect wakefield
50 issue 1 autumn 2013
and attend presentations to facilitate the sharing of artistic thoughts and ideas. Named after the Wakefield artist Barbara Hepworth, the £35 million museum was designed by British practice David Chipperfield Architects, built by Laing O’Rourke and funded by the council – this partnership saw the gallery shortlisted for the 2012 RIBA Stirling prize, which crowns the architectural “building of the year”. Simon Wallis, director of the Hepworth Wakefield says: “Since we opened in May 2011, the gallery has continued to go from strength to strength. “Our success is due to the determination of the team to ensure we deliver the most aspirational, energetic and broadly accessible gallery experience in the country. With our permanent collection displays, temporary exhibitions and extensive education programme for all ages, there is always something inspirational for everyone.” Hepworth Wakefield welcomed 850,000 visitors in its first two years, more than five times the gallery’s original first year target, reaching 903,000 by August 2013. It has numerous accolades and awards, being listed among the Top 50 Art Galleries in the world by The Times and securing the prestigious Museum of the Year Clore Learning Award. The new 6458sq m expansion of contemporary art space – in a converted textile mill now known as The Calder – opened to the public in late summer 2013. The opening exhibition features the work of former Turner Prize nominee, Roger Hiorns and runs until 3 November. Permanent fixtures include a large selection of 20th century art, incorporating The Hepworth Family Gift, an exhibition of 44 full-size plaster and aluminum models and original Barbara Hepworth drawings and lithographs, presented by the artist’s daughters and estate trustees, Rachel Kidd and Sarah Bowness.
the theatre royal wakefield has been earmarked for a £2.6 Million refurbishment This support of tradition and heritage is a passionate feature of the city’s culture, personified by a flourishing theatre scene. The site of the Theatre Royal Wakefield, established in 1894, has played host to various forms of entertainment, having functioned as everything from an early 20th century opera house to a 1950s bingo hall. It reopened as a theatre in 1981 under chairman Sir Rodney Walker and the venue has now been earmarked for a £2.6 million refurbishment, which could begin next year. The Heritage Lottery Fund has provided initial funding of £152,000 to the Grade II-listed building, which today incorporates an eclectic range of drama, dance, music and comedy events. In 2011, the theatre’s prestige was boosted with the appointment of British playwright John Godber, who joined as creative director, and brought with him the productions of the John Godber Company. Godber’s plays are widely performed – he is cited as one of the most performed playwrights in
above Libraries are cool: Jarvis Cocker at the opening of Wakefield One. Below The Art House offers residencies, opportunities for exhibitions and business training for aspiring artists.
the country, particularly renowned for his adaptation of Anthony Burgess's famously disturbing, dystopian novel, A Clockwork Orange and the 1984 play Up ‘n’ Under. Since joining the Theatre Royal, Godber continues to be prolific and has contributed to the flourishing successs of the theatre. Godber tells Connect Wakefield: “The theatre offers a real community hub for the local area and a place for people to share experiences. “Through the work I do with the John Godber Company, we are able to share that creativity all over the country. For example, we’re taking Losing The Plot to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, the most famous arts festival in the world – and it’s great to be flying the flag for Wakefield.” The city’s music scene is also thriving, in part due to the Wakefield Music Collective, a non-profit-making organisation run by music-loving volunteers throughout the city, another venture which receives support from the council’s Creative Partners Grant Scheme. The history extends over 20 years, formed in 1991 to promote local live music and help and advise its vast and eclectic mix of bands. Each year, Wakefield Music Collective organises the Clarence Music Festival in the height of summer, a free event that draws in large crowds. Indie icon Jarvis Cocker recently drew a crowd, as the Pulp frontman opened the Wakefield One library and spoke to the audience about the inspiration of libraries: "One of the things I got from libraries was how fun books could be. If you sit down with a book it becomes magical – you can be in the head of the person that wrote it." The tale of cultural attractions drawing in the crowds is a familiar one for Wakefield. Whether walking through lush Yorkshire parkland and visiting the riverside museums, spending long hot days at one of the city’s music festivals, visiting the Theatre Royal on a cold winter’s night or discovering the hidden artistic gems of the city, Wakefield has much to offer. And with a council that nurtures culture, the development of the city’s nationally and internationally renowned artistic attractions is continuing to gather pace.
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