Wakefield Council has announced that it will launch a bid for up to £20 million from the next round of Levelling Up Fund to part fund investment in Knottingley.
The new round of funding was announced by government in the Spring Budget.
Proposals have been drawn up to rejuvenate Hill Top town centre to position it as a vibrant retail centre and a thriving place that works for the local community, and which builds a fairer future for residents and local businesses.
Proposals include a new town square with new retail units which will be the catalyst for further investment in Hill Top in the future, including the delivery of new homes.
The Levelling Up funding would also go towards the delivery of the Knottingley Community Hub at Kellingley Club plus external leisure and play space and improving connections from the Hill Top retail centre to the Kellingley Club and the Knottingley and Goole Canal.
Cllr Darren Byford, Wakefield Council’s Cabinet Member for Economic Growth, Regeneration and Property, said: “We have done extensive consultations and surveys with the Knottingley community and have listened to their wishes and understood their desires. We know that there is a lot of support for investment in Kellingley Club and the Hill Top area and this is important for existing residents as well as planning for future growth in the Knottingley area.”
The proposals are delivering on what residents, businesses and local interest groups have said they wanted to see through extensive consultations and surveys.
In those surveys, the community asked for three main things: a Vibrant Retail Centre, Active Health and Wellbeing and Active Travel and Green Infrastructure. These have all been brought together in the project proposals for the LUF bid.
Those consultations shaped the content of the Knottingley Masterplan which was adopted by Cabinet in January 2021.
The public will have the opportunity in late Spring to provide feedback on the proposals, to allow the Council to fine tune them for the application to the Levelling Up Fund.
The development of the Knottingley Community Hub at Kellingley Club is already benefiting from £1million of government funding through the Getting Building Fund and £3million from the Council.
The Council is currently tendering for a contractor to start work on The Greenhouse which is to host community activities and Council services.
