Castleford - Economy

Economy

The town is home to Burberry, the clothing manufacturer and retailer. The company has two factories in the UK - the one in Castleford makes the firm's signature raincoats. Nestlé has a factory on Wheldon Road making sweets such as Toffee Crisp, After Eight and Cabana, Texan, Novo, Montego and Nestlé Crunch bars (not the chocolate ones). Allinson's Queen's Mill is the world's largest traditional stonegrinding mill, since 2003 has been owned by ADM Milling Ltd. Both of these places as of 2011 have closed down and production moved elsewhere. In December 2011 Haribo, the sweet producer, applied for planning permission to build a factory and research laboratory on the site of the Pioneer building at Whitwood

Some areas of Castleford are poor and run down. In part, this is because of the closure of the collieries in the 1980s and 90s. Official male unemployment rates reached 20% in the mid-1980s. According to the Index of Multiple Deprivation 2000, Castleford Ferry Fryston ward falls today within the top 5% of most deprived wards in England. According to the Child Poverty Index, over 45% of 0-16 year olds living in Castleford are living in families claiming means tested benefits.

Despite a decline in coal mining and textile manufacturing, significant economic and employment growth has occurred in recent years in service sectors, especially in the retail and distribution sectors. This includes the Junction 32 Outlet village (formerly known as Freeport) and Xscape leisure complex, Europe's largest indoor real snow slope, which has turned the periphery of the town in to one of the most popular destinations for UK skiing and snowboarding. Such developments have taken place because of the town's motorway accessibility and rail connection to Leeds. Distribution companies include HI Group Plc, DHL and Argos Distributors Ltd.

This is just one of many economic developments in the town, including new retail and residential development, an architect-designed library and art museum and a new bus/rail transport interchange planned to be completed by 2010. Note this has been cancelled due to government cutbacks.

The library is in the beginning stages of beging redeveloped, as of January 2012, planning permission having been granted near the end of 2011. The old library building is currently closed, and the library relocated to shared premises. The existing facade will be kept, while the back part of the building will be demolished and replaced with a three story building. The new building is being called The Forum.

Castleford offers the nearest available shopping for residents of the new Allerton Bywater Millennium Community, to the north of the town across the River Aire. This is a development of commercial and community space and over 500 homes, some of which have been built using innovative and modern off-site manufacturing techniques. Allerton Bywater is the second development in a Millennium Community programme, which started with Greenwich Millennium Village at Greenwich Peninsula, London.

Castleford offers a range of shopping outlets such as Carlton Lanes Shopping Centre and a small Retail Park. Supermarkets include Morrisons (formerly Netto), Co-Operative and various freezer Shops. Castleford has a 24 hour Asda which is situated close to the Xscape complex in the suburb of Glasshoughton. There is a 24 hour self-service petrol station based at Asda.

There are now various restaurants available in Castleford from Chinese Cuisine & Indian cuisine to traditional English pub food.

The town night life is home to 3 nightclubs Mansion, Tigerfeet and the Loft.