Knottingley Town Centre Regeneration

Gillespies has developed a masterplan for Wakefield District Council which sets out proposals to regenerate Knottingley Town Centre and Hill Top, in support of a Levelling Up Funding application.

The masterplan proposes three core interventions:

1. Reconfiguration and refurbishment of the Hill Top shopping area, to offer high quality retail sites and a thriving, welcoming town centre for people to live, work, and visit. This will include a new pedestrianised area along the length of the High Street, new trees and seating, and cars relocated to a new rear car park. These changes will create an inviting ‘people-friendly’ public realm with spill-out areas for people to dwell and socialise.
2. Creating a new leisure hub. Consultation identified this as a priority for local people. The Knottingley Active and Recreation Zone will provide play, sports and fitness opportunities for a wide range of users and age groups. Indoor and outdoor facilities will complement the existing Kellingley Social Club and sports pitches to create a community hub that brings people together and promotes health and wellbeing.
3. Step-free links between key locations, with a segregated cycle route framed by tree boulevards and green infrastructure to connect the railway station to the town centre, the proposed recreation hub, the River Aire corridor and the wider residential communities. This active travel corridor will encourage safe sustainable travel to enjoy Knottingley’s retail and leisure activities.

While the £19m bid to the Levelling Up Fund Round 2 wasn’t successful, we are continuing to work with the council to find other funding opportunities to deliver the project.