Council handed £1.7 million cash grant to kickstart schemes to improve transport, broadband and economy in Wakefield and Castleford

The funding has been secured by the Council after Wakefield and Castleford were selected, along with only one hundred other places, to be given the opportunity to bid for a slice of the £3.6billion Towns Fund. The council said it was recognition of the huge potential in our towns and city centre, a fantastic track record of delivery and big ambitions for the district and its residents.

Wakefield and Castleford have been awarded this initial grant to fund projects that can be delivered this financial year. This will enable the council and its partners to kick-start some of the activity that it has been planning for some time, activity that will then be enhanced by the potential allocation of a much more significant sum later in the Towns Fund process.

The Towns Fund will support investment in infrastructure such as transport, broadband, connectivity, skills and culture to support the local economy, particularly after the impact of coronavirus.

Coun Denise Jeffery, Leader of Wakefield Council, said: “We welcome this early slice of funding from Government, which will go towards helping our district recover from the impact of coronavirus.

“We are currently in the process of putting together our bid for the Towns Fund so we welcome receiving this initial grant and we will be working hard to make sure it goes towards key projects to be identified in the overall bids that can be delivered quickly and with the most positive impact on our local economy.”

One hundred places have been asked to develop proposals for Town Deals. The Government will work with the Council to understand Wakefield and Castleford’s local assets, opportunities and challenges in order to deliver plans and ambitions for the district and its residents.