SKM is advising on the ten year project to comprehensively regenerate the waterfront in Wakefield. The project is a partnership between the public and private sectors with a value approaching £100 million and will secure the redevelopment of 10.5 hectares / 26 acres of currently derelict industrial land along a 1.5 km frontage of the River Calder.
The whole area is within a Design Conservation and Heritage Zone and contains many listed buildings, which are to be maintained and enhanced as part of the regeneration process. Therefore sensitive transport planning is a crucial element of the scheme.
Proposals for the Waterfront include 400 apartments, 26,500 sq.m of office development, 2,900sq.m retail floorspace and 600 sq.m ancillary leisure development.
SKM has undertaken a major transport planning and development study to support the scheme and has recently completed a formal Transport Assessment and Environmental Statement to support the proposals through planning. This includes, assessment of traffic impact, parking, traffic management, accessibility appraisal of pedestrian, cyclist and public transport and design of options for major new highway infrastructure on and off-site.
We have been involved in the formulation of the scheme from its inception and have been an integral part of the Team which has developed the Masterplan for the area. SKM has also been involved in the preparation of funding bids to the European Union and Heritage Lottery Fund.
SKM are also the transport planning consultants for Wakefield’s new landmark art gallery, located on the Waterfront headland. The Barbara Hepworth Gallery will house a permanent collection of sculptures by the famous artist, within a building designed by the world reknowned architect David Chipperfield. The scheme, currently being exhibited at the Venice Biennale, is integral to the regeneration of the Waterfront and will be a major new cultural and tourist destination for the City.