Senior councillors are poised to agree to spend more than £1m to cover a funding gap in a West Yorkshire town’s regeneration programme.

In September this year, it was revealed that the first phase of work aimed at breathing new life into Knottingley was under budget pressure “due to construction cost inflation and procurement outcomes”

The £6.3m Knottingley and Ferrybridge masterplan sets out how to regenerate the former coal mining area for the next 15 to 20 years.

As part of the scheme, Wakefield Council demolished Kellingley Social Club and aims to build a sports pavilion with a bar, function room, changing rooms and spectator facilities.

The old Kellingley Social Club building, in Knottingley, was demolished in March 2026 LDRS

placeholder image — The old Kellingley Social Club building, in Knottingley, was demolished in March 2026 LDRS

The council’s cabinet members have been recommended to approve allocating £1.08m of Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) funding to keep the scheme on track.

CIL funding comes from money collected from developers and reinvested into communities.

A report to senior councillors described the project as being of “strategic importance” which would deliver “significant community, health, wellbeing and regeneration benefits.”

The report said Kellingley Miners Welfare FC had also been identified as the preferred operator of the new pavilion and football facilities, subject to agreement.

The old Kellingley Social Club building, in Knottingley, was demolished in March 2026 and the site was prepared for redevelopment. LDRS image

The document also said the council would continue to “explore opportunities” for the wider regeneration of the site beyond phase one.

Earlier this year, Mark Lynam, the council’s corporate director for regeneration, environment and economic growth, assured councillors that extra funding would be found to cover the financial shortfall.

Mr Lynam told members of the regeneration and communities scrutiny committee: “We are in the final stages of finally delivering upon that promise for the people of Knottingley.

“It’s not been without it’s challenges, particularly given the current economic climate and the cost of materials which have impacted on our ability to deliver the final scheme as quickly as we would have liked.

“But we do have a solution for that and that will be going through to cabinet in November, hopefully ahead of starting on the site next year.”

A report to committee members at the time said a review of the project had been carried out in a bid to reduce costs “whilst protecting the project’s key outputs and community benefits.”

The document said: “Whilst this review has identified efficiencies, a funding gap of approximately £1.08 million remains.”