Plans for 37 new Wakefield District Housing flats on site of old Pontefract Fire Station revealed

Wakefield District Housing (WDH) has put forward proposals to redevelop the site of the town's old fire station, which has been demolished.

If approved, the flats will be a mixture of one and two bed properties, built across a three-storey block on the site.

WDH says that if planning permission is granted for the venture, work will start on the development this summer and will be completed by August 2022.

A planning statement alongside the application said that most of the 37 flats would be for existing WDH tenants, who are to be relocated from another block "which is beyond economic repair".

However, the organisation has declined to confirm where that block is.

A WDH spokeswoman said on Wednesday that that relocation plan has not yet been decided and that the flats may yet be used to accommodate new tenants as well.

WDH's executive director of investment Sue Young said: "As a housing provider, we are proud to be able to create long lasting, confident communities and build new homes in places, like Pontefract, where there is high demand.

"This redevelopment will enhance the area, providing more local people with a range of affordable, modern living options which will appeal to families and professionals alike.”

Caddick Construction, who are involved in the proposed development, said they were "delighted" to be a part of the scheme.

The firm's residential development manager Richard Greenwood said: "The former fire station site is a well-known landmark in Pontefract and it is fitting that the site is now looking forward to a new lease of life, with plans submitted to transform it in to a high quality residential scheme.

"It is within walking distance to the town’s train stations as well as Pontefract’s retail, food, and leisure outlets, so we are sure the new homes, once developed, will prove extremely popular."

Local Democracy Reporting Service