© John Munday 2008

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

The Premises

2 Sagar Street is located on a key route between the Castleford town centre and the River Aire. The shop provides large, (1869sq-ft) flexible, light airy ground floor space which could provide for a range of uses. Previously having A1 retail consent, in September change of use to B1 use was granted to enable the use of the premises as a ‘Regeneration Centre’ as part of the Channel 4 project in Castleford, an initiative driven by a partnership of public sector agencies and local service providers.
The Sagar Street frontage is of showroom style windows which have 2 separate entrances thus allowing for different functions to take place at the same time. The building has undergone a programme of internal and external repairs and improvement, funded by English Partnerships, to bring it up to a suitable standard for use as a regeneration centre, although further work is still required.
There is a secure upper floor room, to which access must be modified in order to enable its use, in accordance with building regulations.
In accordance with the terms of the lease assignment/subletting is not permitted. The Tenant can, however, share occupation with other group companies and partner organisations in connection with the authorised use, provided that the Landlord is notified.
The lease for 2 Sagar Street is held by the Castleford Town Centre Partnership Ltd.

Background

The ‘Regeneration Centre’ project at 2 Sagar Street is one of the projects being undertaken as part of the Castleford Regeneration Project. This is a joint initiative between WMDC, English Partnerships, Yorkshire Forward, the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment and several other Non-Governmental Departmental Bodies, charities and cultural organisations, including Channel Four Television
The creation of a ‘ Regeneration Centre’ on Sagar Street also helps to fulfil a number of the objectives identified through the Urban Renaissance initiative, namely the renovation of vacant town centre premises and the reconnection of the town centre to the River Aire via Sagar Street.
In June 2003 Castleford Town Centre Partnership agreed to act as the leaseholder for the ‘Regeneration Centre’. Since initial improvement works to the premises were completed in November 2003 (this is what it used to look like) a number of community groups have come together to determine the scope of the uses to which the premises can be put, and help drive forward the project.
The vision coming out of these meetings is that 2 Sagar Street should provide flexible space, capable of accommodating a range of uses which could drive forward the regeneration of the town centre in a number of different ways.

Current Use of 2 Sagar Street

From the outset it was envisaged that the Regeneration Centre would act as an exhibition space and “shop-window” for all the many diverse projects taking place, thus making visible the process of regeneration in the Town.
Throughout the life of the Castleford Project it has provided a physical focus for regeneration activity taking place within the town. It is here that regeneration meets the people of Castleford who would not generally get involved in the plans for the future of the town. It has been the venue for the many consultation exercises which have taken place as part of the project.
2 Sagar Street also plays a valuable role in providing meeting space for the various community groups taking forward specific regeneration projects. Without a space of this kind it would be difficult or costly for the groups to meet.
Since the Regeneration centre opened in November 2003 it has also started to play a new role, that of a town centre venue for arts activity. It has mounted a series of exhibitions by The Castleford Heritage Group including one in conjunction with the Henry Moore Foundation which attracted more than 1,000 people. A review of the work of landscape architect Martha Swartz, the North Yorkshire abstract artist Blue Wilson and a group show of graduates form the Royal College of Art, London have also taken place.
By having a shop front in the Town Centre it has been possible to encourage people using the town, who would not normally be engaged by the regeneration projects being undertaken, to drop in and find out about the proposals. It has thus been a very valuable tool in the consultation and engagement process.
It has provided a light and airy exhibition space for both arts events and regeneration exhibitions and proved itself flexible enough to meet a variety of needs. It has raised peoples expectations of the facilities that they require within their Town Centre, and is also is playing an active role in changing people’s perceptions of Castleford.
Throughout the development of this project by the local community, the site has attracted interest from private sector companies and individuals in its future use as a prospective coffee bar, restaurant, delicatessen or art gallery. However, it was not possible to produce a sustainable or viable private / public partnership arrangement with the interested parties using normal commercial principles. The Centre has been fortunate enough to helped substantially by the generosity of Wakefield District Council and other agencies such as the Coalfields Regeneration Trust who are keeping the unit open and funding a caretaker/worker post to make its use feasible.
Currently work is being undertaken to ‘brand’ the Centre by creating professional fascia and projecting sign. The decision was also taken to give it a new name: 2 Sagar Street.