Trinity Walk Leslie Jones Architecture

Trinity Walk

A £59 million retail-led regeneration scheme launched in 2010 – the first development of its kind to come forward following the 2008 economic downturn.

  • Client: Sovereign land, AREA Property Partners and Shepherd Construction.
  • Creation of a 500,000 sq ft city centre retail destination
  • 80 per cent let on opening

A major retail-led regeneration scheme, Trinity Walk needed to appeal to Wakefield’s affluent catchment, which was being lost to other regional retail centres, while remaining sensitive to the city’s late-medieval cathedral and historical areas.

A casualty of the recession, this scheme had been stopped whilst in construction. The project partners acquired the part built development, appointing Leslie Jones Architecture to adapt and deliver a scheme that would enable the centre of Wakefield to achieve its potential as one of the UK’s fastest growing commercial cities.

Leslie Jones developed a detailed plan for the 500,000 sq ft site to facilitate the letting of 40 large-format retail units, a modern 96,000 sq ft department store for Debenhams and a 117,000 sq ft Sainsbury’s food store. The sensitive urban design mediates between the old and new of Wakefield, taking into account the adjacent bus station and ring road, to create a new sense of place within the existing city centre.

A modern feel was created through the design of double-height units arranged along broad streets, including the partially-enclosed Main Mall, to frame the showpiece anchor unit at the eastern end. Working at the forefront of retail and leisure design, Leslie Jones was able to build retailers’ requirements into the initial design stages and facilitate discussions with prospective tenants, helping to ensure Trinity Walk was 80 per cent let on opening.

Leslie Jones’ comprehensive understanding of the urban environment and experience in creating new destinations within an existing city framework helped to ensure the scheme’s success despite the difficult trading environment on launch.

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16 февраля, 2017