Funding secures final stage of Glasshoughton project

NEW jobs and homes are set for West Yorkshire as the final phase of the Glasshoughton project receives £2.8m of funding to get underway.

Developer Waystone today confirmed it has reached an agreement with the Leeds City Region Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) and the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) to receive £2.8m loan funding for the third phase of the site in Castleford, West Yorshire.

The loan investment will be used to develop 50 acres on the southern side of 

the railway in Glasshoughton, to create sites for future business opportunities and over 200 new homes. Waystone estimate that the site, known as “Super G,” has considerable job potential and in the long run could provide new employment opportunities for 1,500 people.

Stuart McLoughlin, managing director of Waystone, said:“The Glasshoughton project had benefited from previous public sector loans making possible the 

transformation of the former colliery and coking works in a successful public private sector partnership that had already lasted 16 years. 

“This latest funding allocation will assist in the delivery of the third and final phase and extend the partnership for the benefit of the community.”

Motorpoint of Derby, has already agreed to take seven acres for a new car supermarket, for which planning consent has already been granted. Housing developer Taylor Wimpey has agreed to take a further 16 acres and planning consent has been granted for 238 homes to be built over several years.

Roger Marsh, chair of the Leeds City Region LEP, said:

“Super G demonstrates that funding from the Leeds City Region’s Growing Places Fund is having a direct impact on the city region economy and I am delighted that once again the LEP is supporting new business opportunities.

“Without this funding, it is unlikely this project would be off the ground which highlights the relevance of the LEP to the regional economy and job creation.”

Tom Hawley, area manager at the Homes and Communities Agency, added:

“It is great news that the public sector is able to help kick start the next phase of private sector driven economic growth at Glasshoughton. This area has seen real transformation over the last decade thanks to the public-private partnership with Waystone and our previous investment of £9.6m from the National Coalfields Programme.

 

“These new jobs and homes will make a real difference to local people and will build upon the 3,800 jobs already created.”