Wakefield - Yorkshire Town takes bold step forward

Conder has begun its latest project on a £140million mixed-use scheme that will change the face of Wakefield's Westgate area.

Phase 1 on the 17-acre site, sees the award-winning steelwork contractor erecting 350 tonnes of steelwork in the Merchant Gate project, for buildings C, E and F. Three-storey building which comprises E and F features curved perimeter beams, 12m in length on 3 levels, using 150 x 75 PFC, with 356 x 127 x 33 supporting beams steelwork.

The new business quarter, initially containing 90,000 sq ft of a planned 300,000 sq ft of office space, itself part of a total of 700,000 sq ft of developments, will be created out of the former old yards around Westgate railway station.

The new development will sit adjacent to the Emerald Ring, the city's new ring road to be constructed during the overall project.

The first phase is predominantly funded by English Cities Fund - a partnership between Muse Developments, Legal and General and English Partnerships - with financial assistance from Wakefield Council, Yorkshire Forward, the European Regional Development Fund and Network Rail.

The steelwork structures for the three new combined office and leisure buildings, with cafes, have been completed and work now moves to the shopping complex.

The development also incorporates a new residential block of 66 apartments and a new public square, part of three acres of open space. Plus a 1,450-space multi-storey car park to be built along the railway lines and operated by the Council.



Client: English Cities Fund

Main contractor: Clegg Construction Limited

Architect: Carey Jones Architects Limited

Engineer: BSP Consulting

07/23/09

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