Council vows to plug £1m funding gap to deliver Knottingley redevelopment

Wakefield Council’s chief regeneration officer has said the authority plans to plug a funding gap of more than £1m to ensure a major redevelopment scheme in Knottingley can be completed.

A meeting heard that additional funding would be made available in November to progress the work planned at the former Kellingley Social Club site.

Mark Lynam, the Reform-led council’s corporate director for regeneration, environment and economic growth, gave the assurance after a report said the project faced budget pressures “due to construction cost inflation and procurement outcomes.”

In September 2024, the council’s former Labour administration agreed to spend £6.3m on the project.

The work forms part of the Knottingley and Ferrybridge masterplan, which sets out how the area will be regenerated over the next 15 to 20 years.

The social club building was demolished earlier this year and a new sports pavilion with a bar, function room, changing rooms and spectator facilities is due to be built at the site.

Mr Lynam told the regeneration and communities scrutiny committee that the cabinet would be asked to approve a recommendation to release further funding next month.

He said: “We are in the final stages of finally delivering upon that promise for the people of Knottingley.

“It’s not been without it’s challenges, particularly given the current economic climate and the cost of materials which have impacted on our ability to deliver the final scheme as quickly as we would have liked.

“But we do have a solution for that and that will be going through to cabinet in November, hopefully ahead of starting on the site next year.”

The report to committee members said a review of the project had been carried out in a bid to reduce costs “whilst protecting the project’s key outputs and community benefits.”

The document said: “Whilst this review has identified efficiencies, a funding gap of approximately £1.08 million remains.”

Committee member Rachel Speak, Liberal Democrat councillor for Knottingley, said £10m had originally been allocated for the scheme in 2019 but was later reduced to £6.3m.

She told the meeting: “We have got to a point where we have cleared the land but that is not delivery for Knottingley.

“You are doing a lot of work to manipulate the figures down and take away from the project when in reality Knottingley needs the money to be available.”

Mr Lynam said original proposals for the site were changed two years ago after they were deemed “undeliverable.”

He added: “I absolutely get that point that you make, there was an aspiration for this amount of money and now we are on this amount of money.

“I think ultimately this is about the end outcome, and the end outcome is that the money will be there because we are in conversation with finance, they will resolve that in the November cabinet report”

“The funding gap will be closed, the project will get delivered as we intend it to get delivered.

“The fact is, the cost of materials, and the overall construction industry have changed quite materially over the last two years.”

Mr Lynam said Matthew Pinder, cabinet portfolio holder for district regeneration and regional growth, had previously pledged his commitment to the scheme at a full council meeting.

The officer also said the council had held talks with the Coalfields Regeneration Trust and Sport England about potential funding for a second phase of work at the site, which could include building a new wellbeing hub and more recreation facilities.

He said: “This is a bit of a personal crusade of mine, as I know it is councillor Speak’s, to get this project finally delivered for the residents on Knottingley.”