Tigers given ground boost

Castleford hope to have work started on new ground next year

Last updated: 28th July 2010   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Tigers given ground boost

Castleford: soon to be leaving the Jungle?

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Castleford hope to have work on their new ground started by the spring of 2011 after their developers reached final agreement over a site to build on.

The Tigers are looking to relocate from their current Wheldon Road home in order to gain another Super League license when they awarded next year.

Their hopes have now received a huge boost with the news that they have now secured a 20-acre plot at Glasshoughton at Junction 32 on the M62.

The announcement comes in a week during which Castleford and neighbours Wakefield have traded statements over their stadium plans.

The local council had declared that they were only prepared to offer financial support to one of the ventures, with Wakefield looking to move to a new stadium at Newmarket, two junctions along from Castleford's proposed home.

That led to talk of a groundsharing arrangement between the two clubs in order to boost their respective license bids, but Wakefield quashed that idea on Sunday by announcing that they had no intention of entering such an agreement and were to press ahead with their own plans.

While Castleford have still to formally rule out the prospect of a groundshare, they have now made significant steps in their own bid to move to Glasshoughton.

Delighted

Their developers, Waystone, have already secured planning consent and are now preparing the development platform for the stadium, and their manager director, Stuart McLoughlin, said in a statement: "We are delighted to support Castleford Tigers on their road to secure a new home for a Super League future.

"Glasshoughton attracts 3.5million visitors each year. With major infrastructure, such as an adjacent railway station and direct motorway access already in place, it provides the ideal location for a new stadium facility.

"The official signing of the agreement means that stadium plans can now progress with hopes to start the build programme as soon as spring 2011.

"Architects Ramsden & Partners have already been appointed to draw up detailed plans to support the reserved matters planning application. In the longer term, Waystone hopes to be able to add further leisure provisions to the stadium site to enhance the overall offer to the local community."

Tigers chief executive Richard Wright added: "This agreement secures the 20-acre site at Glasshoughton on behalf of the club and is another step forward in delivering the stadium."