Civic centre to be sold to help balance books

Castleford's Civic Centre was opened in 1970 and accommodates more than 300 council staff

A town's civic centre is to be sold off in an effort to save a cash-strapped local authority money.

Castleford Civic Centre, which opened in 1970, will be put on the market later this year, Wakefield Council said.

The 700-capacity venue has been used to host concerts and weddings, while more than 300 council staff are also based at the centre on Ferrybridge Road.

The council had considered selling off the building since 2023 to bridge a budget shortfall, with Les Shaw, cabinet member for resources and property, now confirming in a report that it was set to be put on the market this spring.

Last summer, the authority had said the building could not be sold during the 2024-25 financial year and would remain in public ownership until at least the end of March this year.

Councillor Les Shaw said affected staff would be relocated to other sites

In his report, Shaw said council staff were also in the process of being relocated to other local authority buildings.

He said: "Work continues ahead of the proposed sale of the Civic Centre in Castleford later this year.

"Our project team have worked with around 330 staff who occupied the site.

"They've reviewed the accommodation required for everyone affected.

"The programme now involves staff being relocated to seven other sites across the district."

The centre is set to be put on the market later this year, the council says

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, Shaw explained that the Assembly Hall, the main function room for events at the site, was closed in October.

"An agent will now be appointed to market the Civic Centre, something we're expecting to start from spring 2025," he added.

Last July, community groups sent an open letter to council leaders calling for the centre to be saved.

It was signed by organisations including Castleford Young Musicians, Encore Theatre Company and Castleford Male Voice Choir.

However, the council said it had to take the "difficult decision" to put the building on the market in a bid to ensure its finances were "sustainable".

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