City eyesore Chantry House to be demolished in a fortnight

Plans are in place to build homes at the site of former council offices Chantry House on Kirkgate after demolition is done.

The Snooty Fox was demolished earlier this week as part of regeneration plans for the city.

MORE: Snooty Fox pub in Wakefield has been demolishedThe council said the demolition would clear the way for up to 80 city centre homes if planning permission is granted.

The work that will begin this month at Chantry House will involve stripping the inside of the building.

Work to demolish the outer shell is set to take place in March.

The former council tax and highways building - which has been empty since 2006 - is widely considered to be an eyesore by residents and businesses who say it gives a poor impression of one of the main routes into the city centre.

Wakefield Civic Society president Kevin Trickett said the proposals could go a long way to kickstarting change.

He said: “It’s been a blot on the landscape for a long time so it’s good the council have got hold of it.

“If homes are approved and there are people living in the centre it will be a real boost for bars, shops and businesses.

“When you look at lots of European cities they have shops or bars and flats above them, and the people who live there use those amenities.

“There’s a lot that needs to happen to regenerate the city centre but increasing the resident population would be a good start.”

The council said it was in talks with housebuilders to redevelop the site and was looking for grant money to help with the scheme.

Last year when the Express launched its city centre for readers you told us that something needed to be done with Chantry House.