New era for Merchant Gate development

English Cities Fund has appointed the Leeds office of Knight Frank to market the offices at the mixed-use Merchant Gate development in Wakefield, West Yorkshire.

Merchant Gate is one of a series of developments that have been established to regenerate Wakefield in recent years, including the Trinity Walk shopping centre, the Waterfront, and the Hepworth Wakefield.

Merchant Gate includes new Grade A office buildings, prime retail and leisure facilities, 66 residential flats and a new public square. English Cities Fund is a joint venture between Muse Developments, Legal & General and the Homes & Communities Agency.

Eamon Fox, a partner at Knight Frank in Leeds, who specialises in office agency, said: “We are delighted to have been awarded this very prestigious instruction by English Cities Fund, the owner of Merchant Gate, who has invested in the remarkable renaissance of Wakefield. Merchant Gate, and strategic schemes like it in the city, are changing people’s perceptions of Wakefield.

“The city, benefiting from substantial investment, a proud history and an excellent location, is no longer in the shadow of its larger neighbour Leeds.”

The offices at Merchant Gate, which have been designed by Leeds-based architects Carey Jones, are 1 Burgage Square, 2 Burgage Square and Emerald House. Emerald House is fully let to HM Court Service.

The available space ranges from 4,000 sq ft to 27,000 sq ft.

Mr Fox added: “This is a wonderful chance to move to the very best new office buildings in Wakefield.”

English Cities Fund’s portfolio includes significant regeneration schemes in Liverpool, Salford, Wakefield, Canning Town and Ply- mouth.

It was created by the Government to pave the way for higher levels of private investment. Muse, which is part of Morgan Sindall, is a national mixed-use developer with regional operations in London, Leeds, Manchester and Glasgow.

Coun Denise Jeffery, the cabinet member for economic growth and skills, described Knight Frank’s appointment as very positive news.

She added: “We are committed to promoting and welcoming business and new homes into our city, and welcome the news that a major national company is to market Merchant Gate to prospective businesses.”

She said Merchant Gate’s proximity to the train station was a key selling point.

She added: “We look forward to attracting new businesses to the city centre.”