Wakefield looks to commit £9.8m LUF spend
The council’s cabinet will be asked to allocate Levelling Up Fund cash to four projects, including Rushbond’s redevelopment of the Old Courthouse.
The clock is ticking on LUF-backed development, with projects chosen for support under one of the Conservative government’s flagship policies needing to be largely completed by spring 2026.
Since this summer’s General Election, local authorities with projects still in the works have sought to push things forward, Wakefield among them. A memorandum of understanding over project delivery has been agreed with the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government.
The projects lined up for LUF backing in Wakefield, following a shortlisting process earlier this year, are:
- Up to £4m for the Old Courthouse, where Rushbond, the experienced heritage developer, will lead on renovations of the now council-owned former crown court building to enable it to be brought back into use, plus public realm enhancements. The project, a cornerstone of the Civic Quarter’s regeneration, could include performance space, F&B and activity areas.
- Up to £3.25m for Production Park, to support the expansion of the South Kirkby media production complex.
- Up to £1.25m for The Hepworth and Yorkshire Sculpture Park public art trail, specifically to enable the installation of a new garden workshop, children’s playground and art trail enhancements.
The rest of the LUF money will, should cabinet give the thumbs-up, see a contingency fund of £1.1m set aside, and £250,000 committed to a feasibility study on the most effective form of higher education skills investment, to be carried out jointly with West Yorkshire Combined Authority.
Wakefield’s cabinet will be asked to approve the delegation of authority to officers to complete gran funding agreements with the relevant partners.
