Castleford Tigers are one step down the road in acquiring their new stadium, with a new drawing of the proposed site plan now being published.
The Fords’ much-needed stadium upgrades had been recommended for approval last month, but the publication of this new drawing suggests the club are one step closer to getting their new stadium.
The new drawing, which is available to view on the Wakefield Council website, indicates the training pitch situated outside the ground will become a fully 4G pitch with four new floodlights.
As well as this, the capacity for the new-look Wheldon Road will now be 10, 363, smaller than the current capacity of 12,000. According to the new drawing, the East Stand will have capacity for 2218 fans, the Wheldon Road End will allow for 2780 fans, the Princess Street Stand will accommodate 3051 and the Railway End will hold 2314.
Other things on the new drawing, which can be viewed at the bottom of the article, include a new club shop and a fitness suite.
Statement from Castleford Tigers and Axiom Yorkshire
Credit: Imago Images
The overall project at the Wheldon Road site will deliver a much-improved matchday experience for fans. A new main stand, as well as a full refurbishment of the three existing stands, are major parts of the plans. The club’s hospitality options will also improve, with a new banqueting suite and corporate hospitality suite.
It will also greatly boost the work of the Castleford Tigers Foundation, in particular with the new teaching suite.
As well as the improvements to the Stadium, the site will see the new Axiom employment hub. Axiom’s proposals would provide £12.2 million of funding towards the stadium improvements, with an additional £2 million coming from Wakefield Council’s Rugby League Resilience Fund.
Commenting on the approval of the plans back in February, Mark Grattan, Castleford Tigers RLFC Managing Director said: “Everyone knows how important the club is to the town and we take seriously our responsibility to maintain professional rugby in Castleford. However, it is no secret that the available money within the sport is diminishing.”
“Without significant external funding, like that offered by the Axiom proposals, there is no realistic prospect of us raising the money required to pay for the major improvements to our stadium which are necessary over the long term.”
He added: “In turn, significantly improved banqueting and hospitality facilities will help us to substantially increase non-matchday income to the benefit of the club. We are also desperately keen to improve facilities for supporters with disabilities. The proposed stadium improvements will also deliver a new base for the Tigers Foundation which does so much important work within our community.”
“It is critically important that we secure approval for both the planning application for the Wheldon Road improvements and the Axiom proposals which pay for them.”
A spokesperson for Axiom Yorkshire also commented on the approval of the plans last month: “We are pleased that both planning applications have been recommended for approval by Wakefield Council’s Planning Officers. If approved the Axiom proposals alone will deliver around 2,200 permanent jobs, alongside further jobs at the stadium and during the construction period.”
“The cumulative beneficial impact of this level of job creation, combined with the social-economic benefits to the area and the circa £142 million boost to the Wakefield economy, will deliver significant and lasting benefits for Castleford. It is now for planning committee members to make their decision on both applications.”
Credit: Wakefield Council
