Supermarket giant gives major update on long-awaited new store

Supermarket giant Aldi has announced it will break ground at City Fields later this year, with the store expected to open next year creating up to 40 new jobs.

Marks & Spencer, which said in January it would quit its city centre store for a new food hall on the site, said last week it had “no update to share” on the plans.

And there is no update on previously proposed nursery facilities and medical services at the stalled City Fields district centre site.

Coun Andrew Wakefield, Wakefield Council’s Cabinet Member for Strategic Housing, Skills and Business Growth, said: "Residents have been waiting a long time for new facilities at City Fields.

"It’s encouraging to finally see progress being made on the district centre. We welcome Aldi’s update – this is a global brand showing confidence in our area as a place to invest, create jobs, and do business.

"We look forward to further announcements about when work on bringing more tenants on the site will begin.”

The 110,000sq ft district centre off Neil Fox Way was first approved in February 2020.

Work began in 2022 but was halted when the contractor went into administration.

Fresh permission was granted in September last year to allow retail, food outlets, medical services, a nursery, offices, a pub, restaurant and drive-thru coffee unit.

The application, by Cityfields (Wakefield) Limited, sought permission for “the construction of a mixed-use district centre with associated access, car parking, landscaping and infrastructure work.”

A document from the developer at the time stated: “Planning permission for the District Centre was originally granted in February 2020 and development commenced in May 2022, but was quickly aborted when the contractor went into administration.”