Merchant Gate is one of the most important City Centre development sites in the Yorkshire region.

It provides an exciting opportunity to create a new high quality business quarter for the city of Wakefield.

It comprises of a new 6.9 hectare development linking the station to the city centre and delivering 700,000 sq ft of mixed-use development including offices, a hotel, retail/ leisure and 350 new homes.

Phase 1

Phase 1 of development work was opened on 10 September 2010 by Sir Michael Lyons, Chairman of the English Cities Fund. The development comprises of a public square surrounded by 3 new buildings (offices and apartments), a 1,500 multi-storey car park and a new section of the Emerald Ring, the City's inner ring road.

Phase 2

Work commenced in August 2010 on the new council offices, which was completed in December 2011. The building will cater for over 1,000 staff and host the new city library and museum.  The building will open to the public in October 2012.

Phase 3 - New Westgate Rail Station

£8.1m has been secured to build a new Westgate rail station on Mulberry Way, next to the new multi storey car park.

A public exhibition of the proposed design was held (25 September until 12 October 2012) and commuters were consulted on the plans at Westgate station in September 2012.

Subject to securing planning permission in early 2013, the station construction is expected to be underway by Easter 2013 and be completed in November 2013.

Page updated: 22 January 2013

Wakefield Council are grateful for the support of the following funders: