New scheme set to create 1,400 jobs

Keyland Developments, the property trading arm of Kelda Group and sister-company to Yorkshire Water, has assembled a project team to prepare a planning application for a new scheme on a 53 acre site in Wakefield, West Yorkshire. The proposals could include 700,000 sq ft of space for businesses. If the plans are approved, the scheme will become part of the 375 acre City Fields development, which aims to create a new community to the east of Wakefield.

The new £33m Wakefield Eastern Relief Road (WERR), which is set to be completed in early 2017, will run through the site.

The City Fields development aims to deliver around 2,500 houses, a primary school, health facilities, district and neighbourhood centres and employment space. Miller Homes is about to start work on the first phase of the development, and most of the business space will be within Keyland’s site.

Keyland has instructed the Leeds offices of Bilfinger GVA and Knight Frank to help prepare a planning application for the site.

The proposals, which Keyland believes could generate 1,400 jobs, are expected to be submitted in late 2015, with a view to the site being development-ready with planning in place when work on the WERR is completed.

Peter Garrett, the managing director of Keyland Developments, said; “The vision for the whole City Fields area has been collaboratively developed over a long period of time and now that work has started on the road, we can start to fully progress the plans for our 53 acre employment element.

“With direct access to the WERR, the site is one of the most strategically placed within the region, and we are currently working with our team on the masterplan to ensure that the application reflects the requirements of the local marketplace.”

Keyland has been operating across Yorkshire for more than 20 years, regenerating Yorkshire Water’s redundant sites.

The site of the proposed development is on land bought by Keyland for an undisclosed sum in 2013. It was previously owned by Yorkshire Water, and has not been operational for over a decade.

A spokesman said: “Keyland believes the site will be occupied by a mix of local and regional businesses. Keyland has other schemes in the pipeline in West Yorkshire.”

Iain McPhail, associate director at Bilfinger GVA, said: “There is a well-documented shortage of new employment space within West Yorkshire and Keyland’s site has the capacity to deliver some 700,000 sq ft of accommodation with prime frontage on to what will be one of the region’s main arterial routes.”

Nick Prescott, an associate at Knight Frank, said the plans were in keeping with other proposals to regenerate the area.

He said the “well-considered application” would maximise the site’s potential.