Castleford Tigers take massive step towards stadium redevelopment

Planning applications for Axiom employment site proposals and Castleford Tigers stadium redevelopment recommended for approval.

Castleford Tigers and Axiom Yorkshire can confirm that the planning applications for a major upgrade to the Wheldon Road stadium and a significant new employment development on the Axiom site, at Junction 32 on the M62, have both been recommended for approval by Planning Officers and will be discussed at Wakefield Council’s Planning Committee on Thursday 15 February.

If planning is approved for both projects, the circa £200 million Axiom Yorkshire proposals will deliver new employment, logistics and manufacturing floorspace, providing around 1,830 permanent full-time jobs in Castleford, with a further 365 ‘spin-off’ jobs created within the Wakefield Council area. Furthermore, during construction approximately 1,500 on and off-site construction jobs per year are likely to be generated at both Wheldon Road and the Axiom employment site.

The plans will deliver a much improved matchday experience for fans, players and officials alike. Proposed improvements to Wheldon Road include a new all-seater main stand and refurbishment of the three existing stands. A new banqueting suite and corporate hospitality function will help the club to generate much-needed additional revenue, including on non-matchdays. An upgraded stadium will also enable the Castleford Tigers Foundation to deliver additional work of social value in the community, which has been calculated as being worth the equivalent of an extra £19.6 million of spending per year.

Axiom will also deliver £15 million of highways improvements to the Junction 32 roundabout.

According to the Council’s planning committee report, the Wheldon Road proposals have been supported by 2,256 people and the Axiom application has had 2,101 representations in support.

Castleford Tigers Director delighted

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.

“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.”