The five towns were selected for the renaissance programme in 2002 as part of the second phase of the renaissance towns programme.

Castleford, Featherstone, Knottingley, Normanton and Pontefract are different to each other, have different populations and tend to see themselves as separate places. However, in many ways they are very similar and work as a single place with many centres. The people living in the five towns were helped by advisors Urban Initiatives to develop a vision of how the area could be improved. The vision focuses on each place, in order to help maintain its special qualities, but the towns came together to look at transport, jobs and the surrounding countryside; issues which require joined-up working to regenerate the area.

A number of projects were identified in the five towns including the construction of a 130-metre landmark pedestrian footbridge across the River Aire.

Castleford’s renaissance process is being recorded by Talkback UK who are commissioned for broadcast by Channel Four. They will produce a series of five television programmes with the aim of educating and inspiring the UK public to participate in the process of regeneration.

It is expected that around £11m will be invested into projects just in Castleford, with almost £2m coming through Yorkshire Forward’s renaissance programme.