Pride in place Castleford

What is Pride in Place?

Pride in Place is a long-term investment programme designed to empower local communities to shape the future of their towns and neighbourhoods.

Castleford was awarded approximately £20 million over a 10-year period through the MHCLG Pride in Places Programme (Phase 1). This funding will be split 75% capital and 25% revenue.  

To access the funding. We submitted plans to the government to secure the funding using feedback from residents. We used information received from the community and stakeholders to design these plans. This was gathered before, during and after development of the Aire River Growth Corridor (ARGC) Masterplan. It was also used in our Strategic Regeneration Framework (SRF) the Towns Fund investment plan, and Long-Term Plan for Towns. We also included Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) Zen City consultation information

The final version was approved by MHCLG in April 2026, with the memorandum of understanding to access the first 4 year investment signed in July 2026.

Castleford has a proud history stretching all the way back to Roman times. It’s always played an important role in the district. But regeneration isn’t just about celebrating the past. It’s about looking forward and creating a bright future for today’s residents and future generations to come.

This Pride in Place (Phase 1) funding will supercharge Castleford’s regeneration plans, and unlock the town’s full potential, by:

• enhancing current Town Deal projects to allow a more ambitions approach to town centre regeneration. Creating a new approach, with more development opportunities, and more improvements to public spaces. And better projects to improve access and connectivity
• accelerating progress for key strategic development sites to bring forward new housing and other projects to encourage further investment
• empowering grassroots initiatives that deliver visible, meaningful improvements to generate community pride
• strengthening governance and transparency by making sure funding and decision-making is overseen by the Castleford Together Board. And delivering joined-up decision-making and delivery, with shared accountability
• unlocking barriers to regeneration that are currently slowing down progress, such as dealing with complex sites

Castleford’s regeneration is more than a series of projects; it is a shared journey towards a more resilient and sustainable future for the town and its residents. By combining strategic investment and strong local leadership with community engagement, and a clear delivery framework, Castleford is well-positioned to realise its full potential

Community Grants Programme

A key element of the Pride in Place Programme is the launch of a Community Grants Scheme.

The scheme will provide funding for local projects that support the aims of the Regeneration Plan and deliver real benefits for local people.

Examples of projects that may receive support include:

• community events and festivals.
• environmental improvement projects.
• youth activities.
•  heritage and cultural initiatives.
• community wellbeing programmes.
• local volunteering projects.

How decisions are made

Castleford Together provides the local governance structure for Pride in Place.

The programme is overseen by the Castleford Together Strategic Board, which brings together representatives from:

• local businesses.
• community and voluntary organisations.
• public sector organisations.
• ward councillors.
•  education and skills partners.

A dedicated community subgroup will help ensure local voices remain central to decision making and the assessment of community grant applications.

Get involved

The future of Castleford belongs to everyone.

Whether you are a resident, business owner, community group, volunteer or local organisation, there are many ways to play a part in shaping the future of the town.

You can:

• join community events and consultations and the appropriate sub group
• apply for community grant funding
• volunteer with local projects
• share your ideas and feedback
• partner with us to deliver positive change

Together, we can build a stronger, more vibrant and more successful Castleford.

Find out more

For updates on Pride in Place, upcoming projects, community grants and opportunities to get involved, please visit this website regularly.

Supporting documents are available and can be viewed by emailing major projects at majorprojects@wakefield.gov.uk