Work begins to turn former police station into apartments

Redevelopment has started on new homes in Wakefield’s historic Civic Quarter.

Wakefield Council is working with property investment company, Rushbond, on a project that will see new homes created in the former Wood Street police station at Gills Yard, and Rishworth Street as part of the regeneration of the city centre.

The project will create a new city neighbourhood, called the “Wood Street Collection”.

The neighbourhood is being delivered by Fallowdale Homes, the housebuilding arm of Rushbond, which has appointed Mulberry Construction Group and Keepsake Construction as lead contractors.

James Dinsley, from Rushbond, said: “This is an exciting milestone as work begins to create a new opportunity for families and people of all ages to live in the heart of this beautiful city.

“Wakefield is famous for its cultural and architectural heritage – but there is also so much placemaking and infrastructure investment taking place to cement its future as a desirable, thriving centre.”

The former police station has the first section of scaffolding in place, ready to transform it into 33 one, two and three-bedroom apartments available to rent, alongside the conversion of Wood House into a large, four-storey residential property.

Over the next few months, specialist cleaning and renovations will be carried out on the heritage exterior, alongside the repair of the masonry and roof.

Internally, existing walls will be knocked through with new steelwork fitted, ready for the fit-out which will begin later this year.

Next month will see ground-breaking works start on “Gills Mews” for 20 two and three-storey new build townhouses on the site of the old Rishworth Street car park. These properties are due to be completed from the end of 2025.

Nine new three-bed townhouses at “Gills Yard”, built on the former council-owned car park, will also be available for purchase, with the homes due to complete by summer 2025.

The first homes at the Wood Street Collection are set to be released to buy off-plan in the autumn and ready to move into from summer 2025.

Councillor Michael Graham, cabinet member for regeneration and economic growth, said: “It’s great to see that redevelopment work is getting underway at Wood Street in the first stage of creating new homes in an historic part of our city where people can live, work and socialise.

“The transformation is part of our ambitious regeneration plans to breathe new life into this part of the city centre and to ensure its stunning historic buildings are restored for future generations.”