The Heritage Lottery Fund has awarded Wakefield Metropolitan District Council in Yorkshire £5m towards building a new art gallery on the city’s waterfront.

Work on the Hepworth Wakefield, named after Wakefield-born sculptor Barbara Hepworth, will begin in August, with an opening planned for 2008.

John Foster, chief executive of the council, said: “This is marvellous news for the city and great news for the arts. The Hepworth Wakefield will be a building of national and international significance and will put the city on the cultural map of Britain.”

The total cost of the project will be £26m – which will also include surrounding gardens, a footbridge across the River Calder and access works to link the gallery with the city centre. Further funding has been secured from The Arts Council, Yorkshire Forward and the European Regional Development Fund.

Some money will also come from the council’s coffers, but a further £2m would still be needed and raising this will be one of the primary tasks of the newly formed Hepworth Wakefield Trust.

The gallery was designed by London architect David Chipperfield and bids for the construction contract will be taken until 18 July.

As well as Barbara Hepworth’s work, it will feature other British artists including LS Lowry and Henry Moore. Details: www.wakefield.gov.uk