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GRAND DESIGNS TOP ARCHITECTS TO BATTLE OVER PRESTIGE ART GALLERY PROJECT MAJOR international architects are to he invited to compete for the design of a multi-million pound art gallery at Wakefield, the YEP can reveal. The designs are for the proposed Barbara Hepworth Gallery, part of the £40m Wakefield Waterfront project on the banks of the River Calder near Chantry Bridge. The prestigious gallery, which will replace Wakefield's existing cramped art gallery in Wentworth Terrace, will be the jewel in the crown of the long awaited Waterfront scheme. It is expected to become a visitor attraction of national importance, showing work by artists of international significance. It will also bring together, for the first time, a unique collection of original plaster sculptures by renowned sculptor Dame Barbara Hepworth, who was born in the city, and the fine art collections held by Wakefield Art Gallery. Council chiefs see the new gallery as having the potential to become a regional centre for creativity and learning. A development brief prepared by the council envisaged a "potential landmark building of architectural distinction." Today Coun Wayne Jenkins, chairman of the Waterfront Trust, told the Yorkshire Evening Post the competition would be launched soon. "We will have a short list of six architectural practices which we will pay to produce outline designs," he said. "We will have two juries, one that takes the decision on the entries and one that is advisory." Members had not yet been chosen but would be of national and international standing. Coun Jenkins, who is also Wakefield Council's cabinet member for education and lifelong learning said the gallery would be a brand new building on the headland next to the river at Chantry Bridge. This rules out the 18th century Navigation Warehouse, which had been lined up to house the new gallery. It was visited by Prince Charles in 1999 when he described it as "a remarkable building" and pledged to return once the Waterfront project was completed. "We will be going out to international architects and will be advertising throughout Europe," said Coun Jenkins. "We are hopeful that we will be making a decision some time around the middle of the year." Progress with the Waterfront project has been held up over the last few years for a number of reasons, including land acquisition and raising the many millions of pounds needed. But today Coun Jenkins said things, were picking up. "We are now at the implementation stage and I am very sure that we will soon see things happening. At the same time we are now putting together the funding package from various sources, including Europe and the Lottery." Apart from the flagship Hepworth Gallery, the scheme could also include restaurants, bistros, bars and clubs, along with galleries, studios, workshops, offices and an hotel. It could create up to 400 jobs and draw upwards of 260,000 visitors a year. A massive development is proposed for Wakefield Waterfront which is hoped will include a sculpture park, hotel, shops, offices, bars and residential areas. Stage 1 approval has been received from Heritage Lottery Fund for the allocation of a £1.5 million grant. A further £18,700 of development funding has been awarded to help progress the grant application to Stage 2. Planning consent for a £30m canalside regeneration scheme has been granted for plans submitted by the architects Cartwright Pickard. The architect's plans include a central landscaped boulevard with 219 canalside apartments, office accommodation, roof top restaurant, cafe bars, health club and hotel. The development managers are Lemmeleg and the scheme will be marketed by DTZ Debenham Tie Leung. Construction is due to commence in 2003. Total costs for the Wakefield Waterfront regeneration has been estimated at £40 million.
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