1,400-home plan at former Nestle site set for approval

The proposed construction of a 1,400 home residential development on the 64-acre former Nestle plot in Castleford is set to move forward with plans recommended for approval when they go before councillors next week.HOW Planning, on behalf of Castleford Riverside Regeneration Ltd, submitted an outline planning application to Wakefield Metropolitan Borough Council in August 2017 for the regeneration of the former C6 Works and Nestle site.The proposal is for a residential-led mixed-use development comprising up to 1,400 new homes, extra care provision and a new local centre.More than 3,000 sq ft of space is incorporated for retail usage and up to 7,000 sq ft of space for professional and services uses. The development would also provide more than 10,000 sq ft of health and crèche facilities and 15,000 sq ft of extra care provision. Provision for a 21,500 sq ft hotel is also included.The plans include the demolition of existing buildings and all necessary remediation works associated with the brownfield site, which sits within the Aire River Growth Corridor Housing Zone.The scheme will go before the council’s planning and highways committee on 24 May and is recommended for approval, subject to conditions, in a planning officer’s report prepared for the meeting.It is estimated that the development would support 100 full-time-equivalent (FTE) jobs in Castleford through the increased spending from new residents, with a further 78 net FTE jobs through the employment space, hotel, care home and health centre/crèche.About 330 jobs per year could also be created over the ten-year construction period.The former C6 Works was formerly occupied by Hickson and Welch chemical works that operated between 1931 and 2005. The Nestle factory on another part of the site was closed in 2012 and demolished in 2014.