 
The Castleford Project
Method(s) Used
Name of person who posted the project:David Barrie
Location of project:United Kingdom
Date when the project started:2003
Date when the project ended/project ongoing:
Background to project:In 2002, as part of the Yorkshire Forward Urban Renaissance programme, local people in Castleford were convened and consulted on what they wished for the future of their town.In 2003, Channel 4 Television, in support of its ethos as a public service broadcaster, decided it wished to partner with several public organisations and act as a catalyst to the delivery of a project programme of public realm improvements. A process started which then saw a forum of community stewards emerge, as advocates for eleven public realm projects and a Steering Group was formed comprised of over eleven public and private agencies and organisations to work with the community and deliver the work. Purpose of project:The purpose of the project was to act as a special purpose delivery vehicle for the improvement of eleven public places in the town which in their current condition impoverished the quality of life of the town's population.Project activities:In 2003, the project community and Steering Group developed an outline programme of work. This was the subject of an architectural and landscape design ideas competition. The community selected preferred design ideas.In 2004, design concepts were developed in especially formed project teams led by a community client, a designer and an officer from City of Wakefield Metropolitan District Council, acting as project manager. Across 2006 and 2007, the first phase of projects was delivered:
Connected with development and delivery of capital project was an ancillary programme of social, cultural, economic and educational activities for the town, designed to lever the benefits and opportunity of the project to the wider community. Project Partners include City of Wakefield Metropolitan District Council, Yorkshire Forward, English Partnerships, CABE, Coalfields Regeneration Trust, Groundwork Wakefield, British Waterways, Environment Agency, Arts Council Yorkshire and eight community groups. Project results:By the close of 2007, delivery of nine projects, valued at over �14.5m - from an initial revenue investment of �100,000 by Channel 4.The formation of three new community groups: Friends of the Green, Wilson Street Triangle and Castleford Riverside Group. Since the project started, the town has successfully won over �250m of new private investment in its housing and commercial offer. This has been credited with raising investor confidence in the town by raising community confidence and acting as a vehicle for small scale new investment in the town's public realm. An independently produced documentary series on the process and progress of the project will be broadcast by Channel 4 Television, as part of the strand of programmes called 'Grand Designs', presented by Kevin McCloud. Contact details:Castleford Project website: http://www.channel4.com/castleford
Castleford Town Centre Partnership: http://www.ctcp.org.uk/ Media Enquiries: Carmel O'Toole - cotoole@channel4.co.uk Consultant Project Director (2003 - 2005): David Barrie - davibarrie@gmail.com |
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