The Ridings Shopping Centre demolition: ‘Who knows if and when we will be kicked out of our homes?’
Following years of rumours Wakefield Council have now confirmed it is in the process of buying The Ridings Shopping Centre, with plans to bulldoze the centre alongside the nearby towerblock flats.
Business tenants of the shopping centre and residents of the flats were notified on Wednesday (February 4) of the council’s plans.
We asked people for their views on the news.
79-year-old Jim Peel, who lives in the towerblock flats which are under threat, said the flats are occupied by many elderly tenants like himself.
He said: “We’ve only just found out. There’s a lot of uncertainty. We hope we’ll get more information.
“We’ve been told we will be rehoused, maybe across the road where the old ABC Cinema used to be.
“It’s all up in the air. I’m not very happy but they’ve got to put us somewhere.”
Jim said his mother was one of the first tenants when the flats were built in 1968.
He said: “Then when The Ridings first opened, people used to come from all over in buses to visit The Ridings.
“There was nothing else in the country like it.
“Everything was undercover there was everything you could possibly want, British Home Stores, Marks and Spencers, everything.”
It was due to be the new home for Wakefield Library, replacing Wakefield One, but in 2021 redevelopment plans were halted when the interior of the former store was found to be ‘riddled with asbestos.’
Earlier last month, Marks & Spencer’s, which had remained in The Ridings, announced it was leaving.
It is due to open a new food hall store on the outskirts of the city centre at the new City Fields development.
Jim added: “Unfortunately, it's (The Ridings) just gone down and down and down.
“I don't think the building of the other shopping centre, Trinity Walk (opened May 2011), helped.
“Wakefield isn’t big enough to sustain two shopping centres.”
In 2022, the council looked set to buy The Ridings but the deal fell through.
Then in 2023, local entrepreneur, Zahid Iqbal, of ZF properties, bought the shopping centre with plans to revive it.
Later in 2023, Zahid built a new free indoor playcentre called The Park on the lower mall.
There had been rumours the lower mall entrance and thoroughfare of shops would also be transformed into a food court similar to The Ridings’ famous food court from the 80s.
The roof was removed in 2025 for this open air food court.
Jim added: “Taking the roof off didn't help really.”
One of the remaining shops on the lower mall is the Wakefield Pride charity shop and community space which has been there for two years.
Shop volunteer Ben Wright, 36, said: “We were told it was going to be a food court but they took the roof off and it’s nothing more than a wind tunnel.”
Ben said a lot of money had been reinvested recently into the centre and nearby flats so the news didn’t make sense and is a blow for all the community groups based there.
“I’ve been coming into Wakefield to visit The Ridings since I was a kid.
“I remember the fish pond, the lift and it had a huge food court.
“We were hoping it was going to be turned around again.”
Kieron Martin from Malcolm Michael’s Butchers also thought the centre was “on the up.”
He said he’d had lots of upset customers already come in.
Kieron said: “It’s a shock. I thought it was on the up. I thought it was getting busier.
“It’s been hectic this morning.”
Stephen and Jean Clayforth are amongst the customers saddened by the news.
Jean said: “The Ridings means a lot to us. It won’t be good for the elderly.”
Stephen and Jean attend an Age UK Cuppa Club.
Stephen said: “If that goes there’s nowhere for us to go.”
Stephen remembers The Ridings being built.
Primark, one of the last remaining chain stores, is set to relocate later this year, but for many of the charities who have bases at The Ridings, it’s not as simple as “moving premises.”
Jody Gabriel, Project Manager at CoActive Arts, who has had several bases in the centre said: “We have used our charity's money to pay for professional plans for a new ramp, disabled toilet and improved back room for our place at the Ridings.
“We were ready to sign a lease, pay rent and make improvements.
“This is all in limbo again now, as we search for a long term home.”
A spokesperson for Wakefield Council said that they’re “sorry” due to the current uncertainty.
Mark Lynam, Corporate Director for Regeneration and Economic Growth, at Wakefield Council, said: “We understand the proposed Cathedral Quarter will mean big changes for many of Vico Homes’ city centre customers in the near future. And we’re sorry that we’re not able to provide more certainty at the moment.
“But we’re fully committed to putting these residents first. By delivering modern, high quality, affordable and sustainable homes for them in the initial phase of redevelopment. We’ll be working closely with Vico Homes to make sure they are supported and can continue calling the city their home, if they choose to do so.”
Bea Firth, who runs a shop in The Ridings said that after running a business in The Ridings for the past 13 years she’s “not shocked,” by the news.
She said: “Something was on the cards because something has to change but it's also concerning because it is my business, it is my livelihood.”
Bea said she believes it’s not going to happen “immediately.”
“We’ve got some time to get our heads around it and make alternative arrangements,” she added.
The Ridings also plays host to a number of regular indoor markets and new shops and venues are still due to open.