Today sees the official handover of block managing agent responsibilities from Plymouth Block Management to Croydon-based Praxis Block Management, acting on behalf of the Head Lessor, G&O Real Estate Ltd.
Praxis Block Management is understood to be honouring all existing contracts for block maintenance, cleaning and lift maintenance and will adopt the existing Service Charge budgets for the remainder of 2024/25.
The Association will continue to represent leaseholders’ interests by working closely with Praxis Block Management to ensure the service we receive represents value for money and delivers against lease commitments.
Individual leaseholders should receive an introductory letter from Praxis Block Management this week and further information will be circulated to Association members by email as it becomes available.
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…
Images : Tileyard North
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.
Car parking at Hebble Wharf is limited to one space per apartment, for 49 out of the 58 apartments. For the remaining 9, there is NO on-site parking.
Car Park spaces are leased individually to apartment owners and are not transferable between apartments. Residents are encouraged to mark their space with a notice showing the registration number of your vehicle – but (for security reasons) do not include your apartment number on any notice.
It should be noted that the space inside the entrance (originally designated a disabled person’s parking space) is no longer available as such, as the former owner of Hebble Wharf sold the lease on that bay and it is now privately owned and allocated as Bay 49. The Association has raised concern about the lack of a disabled person’s parking space with the Managing Agents, as this was understood to be a condition of planning approval when the block was built.
Outside of Hebble Wharf, there is no authorised parking for residents or visitors. The space outside the front door of the building is reserved for emergency vehicles, though it is also used for deliveries. Other parking spaces in the development are allocated to individual businesses in the various office buildings, under the control of the Estate owners, Waterfront Wakefield Management Ltd. Unauthorised parking anywhere around Hebble Wharf is likely to result in a parking penalty notice being issued.
Additional car parking for residents and visitors is available in the Waterfront Car Park on Barnsley Road, on the other side of the canal from Hebble Wharf. This is a Pay-and-Display Car Park operated by Wakefield Council, and all-day car parking here costs £3.50. Parking is free after 6pm and all day on Sundays. Parking Bays nearest Hebble Wharf (marked with RED lines) are reserved for contractors and staff at Rutland Mills. All other spaces are available for public use. Note that the footbridge linking to the car park is currently out of use, so pedestrian access is via Barnsley Road.
Wakefield Council offer Parking Permits for Waterfront Car Park for periods of 1, 3, 6 and 12 months. The price of an annual permit (valid Mondays to Saturdays) is £734 – equivalent to around £2.36 a day. Details of permit prices, and how to obtain a permit, can be found here.
On Thursday 12 February, Wakefield Police responded to a reported incident at an apartment building close to Hebble Wharf, in which two suspects entered the building and proceeded to cause damage to the door and lock of one apartment in an attempt to gain entry to that apartment. It is believed that the suspects may have been unwittingly let into the building by other residents.
Wakefield Neighbourhood Watch Team has issued this reminder to anyone living in an apartment building:
If you reside in an apartment block, please do not allow people to tailgate you in or buzz anyone in even if you think you know them.
Security at Hebble Wharf is a shared responsibility; please be prepared to meet any visitors at the front door, and ensure that no-one enters the building through the garage door after you have driven in or out.
Hebble Wharf Residents & Owners Association 