Jack Hemingway, the council’s portfolio holder for regeneration and economic growth, referred to the deal as cabinet members agreed to sell a council-owned plot of land to enable 80 affordable homes to be built in the area.

He said: “We really need to ensure progress on the district centre at City Fields.

“It’s absolutely vital. We know residents have been crying out for this

Coun Hemingway said councillors had been pushing for progress on the project “for some years.”

He added: “While it’s a private development and not directly within the council’s control, I do understand from discussions behind the scenes that a major high street retailer is actively pursuing the site and a deal could be imminent.

“So we may finally see some much-needed progress.

“I just wanted to add that in, because when we do release land for affordable homes, which is great, we have got to have the facilities that people need to live a happy and healthy life in that location.

“There is some positive news behind the scenes and hopefully there will be more on that in the coming weeks and months.”

Council leader Denise Jeffery said: “We are building more houses but we need more facilities.

“The district centre was a key to it all and it really must come forward.

“We are being held up at the moment but I do think, when we can announce it, it really will be good news.”

Residents were given assurances more than five years ago that a centre would be built to serve thousands of homes.

Planning permission was granted in February 2020 for the development of a 110,000sq ft site off Neil Fox Way.

In April 2022, De Veer Estates announced that work had begun to transform the land but little progress on construction of the new business premises was made.

But work now looks set to resume after planners gave the go-ahead for a “mixed-use district centre” in September this year.

The new application submitted by Cityfields (Wakefield) Limited, sought a minor amendment to the original plans.

The planning permission still allows the site to be used for retail premises, food outlets, medical services, nursery facilities, offices, a pub, restaurant and a drive-thru coffee unit.

A document submitted by Cityfields said the district centre was “the missing piece of the jigsaw” for the development.

When completed, it is expected to serve a new community of more than 2,500 properties.

Councillors for the area previously called on the local authority to consider placing a compulsory purchase order (CPO) on the land in a bid to speed up development.

Matthew Morley, cabinet member for planning and highways, told the meeting on Tuesday (December 16): “As a local member for that area it is something I am constantly asked about on social media – ‘when will that district centre be delivered?’

“It is in the private sector’s hands. I know we are working behind the scenes as much as possible, but we need that there.

“The residents of City Fields have been patient for far too long.

“It is going to be a major retailer that we do know about but let’s keep that to ourselves at the moment.

“I hope all powers in the council will be moving behind that to support us.”

For more information and the source, visit: ‘Major retailer’ set to open store at city’s new district centre