£60 Million Puts Wakefield Communities in Charge of Local Improvements
Thursday, June 18, 2026
- £60 million of funding awarded through the Pride in Place programme
- 3 towns will each receive £2 million a year for the next ten years
- Residents to help determine how the money is spent.
£60 million of funding has been secured for three towns in Wakefield via the UK Government’s Pride in Place programme.
We welcome new investment into the district. This additional funding will benefit Castleford, Lupset and Featherstone, allowing us to deliver long-term improvements over the next 10 years.
Local residents will help determine how this money is spent and I am looking forward to learning more about what matters most to them, and what their immediate priorities are.
Cllr Matthew Pinder
Cabinet Member for District Regeneration and Regional Growth
Castleford was awarded £20 million as part of the first phase of Pride in Place funding. And more recently it was confirmed that Lupset and Featherstone will also benefit from the same amount of funding.
The towns will each receive £2 million a year for the next ten years. This is to help improve the things that matter most to residents. Things like community centres, parks, local facilities, streets and public spaces. It can also support projects that help people and bring the community closer together.
The Featherstone Pride in Place board has now been established, and public engagement is planned to start next week.
Kay Binnersley, Chair of the Featherstone Pride in Place Board confirmed the money will be spent in line with the wishes of local communities, saying “This funding puts residents in charge of shaping their own neighbourhoods. This can include things like improving local spaces, services and opportunities.”
Local engagement sessions will be carried out in Featherstone next week with the following dates and venues confirmed:
- Tuesday 23rd June: 10am - 4pm - Featherstone Community Centre
- Wednesday 24th June: 9.30am -11.30am - Featherstone Library
- Saturday 27th June: 10am - 2pm - Notcutts Victoria Garden Centre
- Monday 29th June: 9.30am -11.30am - Featherstone Library
- Thursday 2nd July: 10am - 4pm - Featherstone Community Centre
- Saturday 4th July: 12pm - 2pm - Featherstone Gala
- Sunday 5th July: 2pm - 4pm - Ackton Park
Face-to-face drop-in sessions have been arranged in Featherstone. These will enable local people to share their thoughts, and everyone within the community is welcome to be part of the conversation.
Future engagement and public consultations in other towns will be shared when details are confirmed, with more information about the Pride in Place scheme available at: www.wakefield.gov.uk
