We are preparing an area action plan to guide the development and regeneration of central Wakefield to 2021. Government guidance recommends that area action plans be developed for areas where there is a need to drive development or manage significant change, such as city centres.  

Central Wakefield is a geographical area that covers the whole of the city centre and also residential and employment area immediately beyond the current inner ring road. The city centre is a major shopping and commercial centre of sub regional importance. It has also been identified as the main driver of the district’s economy in the Community Strategy (Developing Knowledge Communities).

The Central Wakefield Area Action Plan forms part of Wakefield’s Local Development Framework (LDF).  Eventually, the LDF will replace the existing Wakefield Unitary Development Plan First Alteration (which was adopted in January 2003) and become the statutory development plan for the district.

The Central Wakefield Area Action Plan develops the spatial vision, objectives and overall strategy set out in the Core Strategy (the main overarching document of the LDF) into more detailed policies and proposals relating directly to central Wakefield.

Preparation of the document has included wide ranging consultation and engagement with the public and interested parties, details of which can be accessed by following the appropriate links below. Briefly, the main stages have been:  

• Early community engagement (Autumn/Winter 2004/2005);
• Issues and options consultation (June - July 2005);
• Preferred options consultation (January - February 2007); and
• Submission consultation (May – July 2008). 

The Central Wakefield Area Action Plan has been submitted to the government for approval.  A period of public consultation on the submitted document now follows and this represents your last opportunity to have your say on the area action plan.

Your comments will be considered alongside other consultation responses by an independent planning inspector at the public examination into the Central Wakefield Area Action Plan.  We will confirm arrangements and details of the public examination in due course.

In our local development scheme we set out in more detail the purpose of the area action plan and other documents and how long it will take to produce them.

Alongside this area action plan, we have prepared an appropriate assessment and sustainability appraisal (which assesses the likely environmental, social and economic effects of the policies and proposals of the area action plan).