Next step for Castleford regen
Wakefield Council is set to advance the regeneration of the town, with cabinet members due to consider the appointment of a preferred Strategic Regeneration Partner at a meeting on 21 July.
The partner will work alongside the council to deliver regeneration schemes aimed at unlocking the town’s economic and housing growth potential.
The council started its search for a development partner for the town a year ago, focusing on land acquisition, housing, employment opportunities, skills development, a transport hub, and a revitalised retail core.
If approved, senior officers will be authorised to finalise the partnership agreement, paving the way for the delivery of a programme of town centre and riverside regeneration projects designed to attract investment and support long-term growth.
The SRP will play a key role in shaping and delivering the council’s regeneration strategy, with individual development proposals expected to come forward for approval as the partnership progresses.
The move follows significant government investment already secured for the West Yorkshire town. Castleford has received £23.9m through the Town Deal programme to fund improvements to the town centre and riverside, alongside a further £20m awarded through the government’s Pride in Place programme.
The council said a formal agreement with government is expected to be completed shortly, setting out how the Pride in Place funding will be invested during the first four-year delivery period between 2026 and 2030.
Castleford has already secured significant investment to support its regeneration. Around £2.6m was spent refurbishing and modernising the town’s Indoor Market Hall during 2023/24.
Cllr Matthew Pinder, cabinet member for district regeneration and regional growth, said: “We have big ambitions for Castleford, its residents and businesses. We will deliver the projects they were promised – and have waited patiently for – but we’re also thinking bigger.
“We want to create new schemes that will provide long-term improvements for the local community. By working with a strategic regeneration partner, we can unlock new investment and deliver high-quality regeneration on a bigger scale.
“We want to see the kind of projects that will transform the town, boost the local economy and create new opportunities for residents.
“I want to see Castleford prosper, and thanks to the strong transport links that the town enjoys, it makes it the ideal place for regeneration and investment which I am excited to play my part in delivering for the community.”
