Beyond the scaffolding

Over the past few months, more and more of the historic Victorian mill buildings between Navigation Walk and the Hepworth have been shrouded in scaffolding and wrapped in protective sheeting. What’s happening inside? Let’s take a quick look…

Tileyard London, the largest creative industries community in Europe, based in London’s Kings Cross, has begun the restoration and build of its second site, Tileyard North – a 135,000 sq ft development including five of the abandoned Victorian Mill buildings, is being prepped for regeneration to put Wakefield on the map as the ‘new creative destination in the North of England.’ The regeneration plan will convert the space into a mixed-use, inclusive, creative and cultural cluster, with a focus on commercial,
community and education.

The regeneration of Rutland Mills forms the next phase in the Wakefield Waterfront masterplan bringing new coherence to the area and contributing to the creative, art and cultural led programme currently curated by The Hepworth Wakefield. Complimenting the renovation of the five most viable Victorian buildings, some of the unsafe buildings on the site are being demolished to make way for new buildings that, between them, will offer creative companies studio, production and office spaces as well as housing a higher education centre, contemporary street food, bars, restaurants, live event spaces and a boutique hotel.

The vision will also deliver a central courtyard/event space, a new route to the River Calder, a riverside pier and increased permeability through the site, better linking and connecting the different elements.

Tileyard North aims to promote creative inclusivity in the North of England. The new site will offer more creative space and opportunities for businesses and individuals to grow and flourish in the North, whilst still retaining a relationship and stake in the London creative scene. The redevelopment is estimated to take 3 years to complete and with an aspiration of creating more than 500 new jobs, transforming the site into a vibrant destination for creative and collaborative partnerships in music, film, TV, design, new media and all facets of the commercial creative sectors.