Plans for new facilities at a Castleford rugby club are moving forward after a withdrawn planning application was replaced with a new submission that could save the club around £30,000.

Cutsyke Raiders Amateur Rugby League Club said its decision to withdraw the original application for Willowbridge Playing Fields, off Willowbridge Lane, followed changes to biodiversity rules that could mean an exemption from certain requirements.

The club hopes the money can instead be invested in improving facilities for players and the wider community.

Original proposals included a modular clubhouse, storage container, new hardstanding and parking areas.

placeholder image — Willowbridge Playing Fields

The plans attracted 63 supportive public comments, with no objections recorded among the 64 comments submitted.

Responding to the application being withdrawn, the club said: "It’s quite the opposite. The original application was withdrawn and a new planning application has already been submitted."

Eight existing trees would need to be removed to reinstate access to a historic car park as part of the proposed development.

Under the biodiversity net gain requirements applied to the original application, this created a requirement to provide 206 replacement trees.

The club said it had initially identified an off-site location which, alongside the development site, could accommodate the planting at an estimated cost of around £1,000.

However, it was subsequently advised that the replacement trees would need to be classified as street trees, meaning the proposed location could no longer meet the requirements.

As a result, the estimated cost increased to around £30,000.

The club said: "For a community-focused amateur sports club, this is a significant amount of money that could be much better invested in facilities directly benefiting local people."

Its architect had highlighted changes to biodiversity net gain requirements which came into effect on August 6.

Government guidance introduced an exemption from mandatory biodiversity net gain for developments on sites measuring 0.2 hectares or less, provided they do not affect on-site priority habitat.

Following discussions with Wakefield Council's planning department, the club said it believed its proposals met the exemption criteria.

Flood-risk concerns raised by the Environment Agency also remain part of the planning process.

Cutsyke Raiders said its specialist consultants were working with the agency to address the concerns.

The club said: "We have been actively engaging with the relevant professionals and authorities to ensure these matters are properly addressed as part of the planning process."

The proposed development is intended to provide facilities for both Cutsyke Raiders and Whitwood MetroStars to bring grassroots rugby league and football together at the site.

Cutsyke Raiders said: "This is not a short-term ambition. We are working towards securing the long-term future of the site and creating a sustainable sporting and community facility that both clubs, along with the wider community, can benefit from for generations to come."

Alongside the planning application, the club has also applied for funding through the Pride in Place grant programme to improve its changing room facilities.

It has also secured more than £65,000 through the Football Foundation's Grass Pitch Programme over five years.

Proposed on-site parking is also intended to reduce roadside parking and associated traffic pressures for nearby residents.

The club said: "Ultimately, this project is about much more than sport. It is about bringing people together, investing in our local area and creating something that will benefit future generations."