25 key highlights from your Council in 2025
Tuesday, December 09, 2025
Wakefield Council is marking a year of progress with a snapshot of 25 major achievements that have improved life across the district in 2025. These highlights represent just some of the great things delivered this year as the Council continues to focus on what matters most to residents.
Council’s across the country are under pressure, but we’ve kept delivering on what matters most: repairing our roads, helping local families, and supporting our high streets. Residents are seeing the difference – from enjoying upgraded parks, to getting the right support when life gets tough. These priorities are about making a real, tangible impact for local communities.
“This snapshot of the great things we’ve achieved together shows what a difference we make. Having an experienced leadership team has put us on a solid foundation where we can deliver on what matters most for our communities.
“From safer streets and greener spaces, to better support for families and exciting new places to enjoy, we’ve focused every day on your priorities. Everything we do is about making the biggest difference for you and your family.”
Cllr Denise Jeffery
Leader of Wakefield Council
Highlights include:
- Greener parks: £670,000 invested to upgrade local parks, five awarded Green Flag status, and 16,700 trees planted – enough to cover 100 football pitches.
- Safer communities: Launch of an Anti-social Behaviour Task Force, more enforcement officers, new rules to tackle nuisance behaviour and car cruising, and additional police presence.
- Support for children and families: Millions invested in special educational needs provision, three new children’s homes opened, and Ofsted rating children’s social care as Outstanding.
- Skills and employment: Thousands supported through the Step Up programme and Adult Education to build confidence, learn new skills, and secure well-paid work.
- Regeneration and culture: Historic buildings restored, new homes and leisure opportunities created, and the opening of a major entertainment venue at WX. Festivals, murals, and new attractions like ten-pin bowling have drawn thousands to the district.
- Backing local businesses: Free two-hour parking, grants for independent businesses on our high streets, and events to boost footfall and support traders.
- Caring for those in need: Cost-of-living advice sessions, Warm Welcome spaces during winter, and investment in residential care homes for dignity and safety.
- Collecting bins and improving roads: Over 11 million bins emptied, 65,000m² of roads resurfaced, and 7,594 potholes repaired.
Watch the full video and explore all 25 highlights below.