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Castleford Project: The Regeneration Game
Photo courtesy of Wakefield Express
Regeneration is one of those words that’s often bandied about – but have you ever stopped to think about what it really means? Soon you’ll have the chance to find out, when Channel4 screens The Castleford Project, the world’s first televised regeneration scheme, following the transformation of a former mining town.
Castleford, in West Yorkshire, has a population of around 38,000 and in its heyday in the late 1970s, eight local collieries employed around 6,000 people. But restructuring of the mining industry meant that by 1997 the number had fallen to under 600, and it is due to drop further. The closure of the mines and other redundancies has led to unusually high levels of youth unemployment, poor health and low educational achievement.
But the residents of Castleford are unusually committed to making it a better place. They wanted a more vibrant town centre, safe neighbourhoods, improved health and more opportunities for young people.
What is The Castleford Project? The Castleford Project is a programme of improvements supported by a collaboration between Channel4, Wakefield Council, key regeneration agencies and the community to make the town a better place for the people who live and work there, and for employers and investors.
Photo courtesy of Wakefield Express
Castleford was chosen because of its work in addressing local issues, and because of the pride its people have in their town and their unrivalled commitment to its future.
The Project started in 2003 with an investment of £100,000 from Channel4, and the improvements are now worth over £12 million. What makes it different from other urban renewal projects is the extensive involvement of local people, the range of activities, its accountability and the backing of Channel4.
