I have read this thread with, well disappointment mainly, but do have a view on this.
Essentially the Carlton Lanes/bottom of Cas car park has been stagnant for the best part of five years and be assured if ANY credible developer thought they could make money with the project, it would not have lain dormant for that period. That is a FACT and nobody can deny this regardless of reason.
Secondly, the change in status of certain businesses around Wheldon Road means that land in that area is a significantly more viable proposition than it was a couple oif years ago - again - FACT.
Opinions part:
Castleford and Fryston has grown hugely in the areas beyond WR toward the A1/Fairburn area and in my view there is no other Supermarket particularly in the close catchment for that area, so I would give that scheme some logic.
It is my belief that the Town Centre Development was always a non-starter based on cost of construction, cost of land and basic access, but, the group that put together the initial planning and the people in the WMDC group that backed it and were describing it as the saviour of the town and staking their credibility on the Town Centre project going ahead now get a free walk away option without looking daft:
They get to say, well the Town Centre scheme was my preference, but Opus put a compelling case forward and we couldn’t match it - all the while with their fingers crossed behind their backs becuase with the market and finaincial austerity there is really only the Opus scheme in my view that COULD fly, that is not to say it will, there still needs to be favourable winds, but it COULD.
There you go, my opinion, I am not an expert but I know my way round some capital investments and businesses. Do your worst.