Castleford Civic Centre to be demolished to build SEND facilities
Wakefield Council last year agreed to the disposal of Castleford Civic Centre to allow the site to be taken over by a neighbouring school.
Last updated 16th Jul 2026
Plans to demolish a town’s civic centre to make way for new facilities for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) have been approved.
Wakefield Council last year agreed to the disposal of Castleford Civic Centre to allow the site to be taken over by a neighbouring school.
Council planners have given the go-ahead to Castleford Academy Trust’s application for the 1970s building to be knocked down.
A planning statement submitted on behalf of the trust said: “Refurbishment of the building is not considered viable as the building has exceeded its original design life, is in poor condition, and has significant investment needs.”
The document said SEND classrooms, along with new community facilities, would be built at the site under the Department for Education’s school rebuilding programme.
It added: “Demolition is required in advance of these plans in order to enable future development of the site whilst mitigating risk of unauthorised access of trespassers who may enter the buildings.
“By undertaking the demolition at this stage, it enables the applicant to progress structural matters and avoid risks of delays on these aspects when a new proposal is brought forward.
“It is anticipated that the redevelopment works will follow the demolition with minimal delay.”
Two objections to the scheme were submitted to the council raising concerns over parking around the site and the loss of a community asset.
A planning officer’s report said the proposal was acceptable, adding: “It is not considered that the proposed development would be harmful with regard to highways impacts, amenity and noise, and the natural environment subject to recommended conditions.”
The council announced plans to sell off the building in January 2025 as part of cost cutting measures.
A report to cabinet members six months later said: “Castleford Academy is an oversubscribed school offering an outstanding education to the young people of Castleford and is a regional leader for operating a high-quality hearing-impaired integrated resource base for children with SEND.
“The academy is on a landlocked site and has limited scope for expansion.
“Demolition of the current civic centre building would provide an opportunity for the new school building to enhance the school’s existing hearing impairment integrated resource base and deliver improved outcomes more widely for children with SEND.”
At the time, senior councillors also agreed to spend £1.5m on demolition costs and to prepare the site for development.
The 700-capacity centre, on Ferrybridge Road, opened in 1970 and has been used to host concerts and weddings, while more than 300 council staff were also based there.
The Assembly Hall, the main function room for events, was closed in October 2024.
In the same year, community groups sent an open letter to council leaders calling for the centre to be saved.
It was signed by organisations including Castleford Young Musicians, Encore Theatre Company and Castleford Male Voice Choir.
However, the council said it had to take the “difficult decision” to put the building on the market in a bid to ensure its finances were sustainable.