Funding gap for former club site redevelopment

A West Yorkshire regeneration scheme faces a funding gap of more than £1m, councillors have been told.

The £6.3m Knottingley and Ferrybridge masterplan sets out how to regenerate the former coal mining area for the next 15 to 20 years.

As part of the scheme, Wakefield Council demolished Kellingley Social Club and aims to build a sports pavilion with bar, function room, changing rooms and spectator facilities.

However, the first phase of the project faces budget pressures due to "construction cost inflation and procurement outcomes", a report to the Reform-led authority said.

The council's regeneration and communities scrutiny committee was told a review of the project had been carried out in a bid to reduce costs while "protecting the project's key outputs and community benefits".

"Whilst this review has identified efficiencies, a funding gap of approximately £1.08m remains," the report said.

The council said additional new funding sources would be presented to the council's cabinet for consideration in November.

If these were approved, the "anticipated regeneration, health, wellbeing and community benefits" could still go ahead, it added.

The previous Labour-led administration first approved the work two years ago, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

Planning permission for the initial phase of the project was granted earlier this year, with the former social club demolished to prepare the site for regeneration.

The council report said although "significant progress" had been made, uncertainty still surrounded future phases of the scheme.

The committee is due to consider the report at a senior regeneration officers' meeting on Thursday.

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