MDM Homes Ltd has submitted an application for the waterside community on Lock Lane – with cafés, bars and about 70 parking spaces to Wakefield Council.

But bosses behind the scheme contacted the Express to put their modern designs on show and speak about the development.

Michael Michaelson, chief executive of MDM Homes Ltd, said: “The site has been owned by my family since the 1960s and we traded there as Hartley’s Furniture Store.

“I’m not a housing developer as such but I would like to put something back into Castleford by helping regenerate the area.

“All the flats will be modern with balconies and part of the development is to create a riverside walkway with small cafés for recreation.”

The part five-storey part eight-storey development would replace the Bridge End Furniture Ltd store, which will continue trading and plans to relocate to new premises in the town.

Project manager Antony Georgallis said the apartments could be built in 18 months once planning permission was granted.

He added: “We want to do this here to provide housing choice for the people of Castleford.

“This is a wonderful stretch of river and the site is almost in the town centre, very close to transport links.

“We are working with highways consultants to combat any traffic issues and will also put flooding prevention measures in place.”

A date has not yet been set for the application to be heard by Wakefield Council’s planning and highways committee.