Wakefield Council have invested nearly £4m in Pontefract Castle since 2015. This has seen a significant uptake in visitor numbers and increased usage of the site for events. In 2022 several thousand people attended evening events including Proms, Light Up and Lantern Parade, and we have hosted a number of light installations, including the ambitious bespoke projection artwork, Pontefract Giants in 2021. Evening events have proven popular, and we have seen a public demand for seeing the castle in a different light.

However, the castle is dark at night and difficult to light up with the battery and domestic lights currently used. We are seeking a consultant to assess our needs, determine what is possible on site and make design and equipment recommendations. We are looking for schemes that can be delivered within an initial budget of c. £50K but would additionally welcome more aspirational schemes that could be bolted on in the future.

We require guidance on what is achievable within the limitations of a Scheduled Ancient Monument, with consideration given to potential vandalism. The castle already has a 3-phase electricity supply in the grounds.

Our priorities are:
• Safe access at night around the site for evening events
• Enhance the aesthetic and interpretation of the site
• External visibility of the site
• Infrastructure to support events
• Access lighting to the inner keep

Considerations
• Public safety
• Light pollution and our neighbours
• Security of equipment
• Maintenance
• Energy efficiency and sustainability
• Ease of set-up to enable short-term lighting
• Flexibility to light up for different types of events (from dramatic effects to safe access)
• Restrictions of a Scheduled Ancient Monument (limitations on fixings in particular)

To achieve this the Contractor will work with the team to:
• Run at least one session on site at Pontefract Castle with staff to define overall concept, themes and function
• Write a detailed feasibility study with recommendations
• Create Outline Design Plans for lighting infrastructure
• Produce itemised schedule of work and itemised cost plan within the c. £50K delivery budget
• Produce aspirational plans which can bolt onto the budgeted plan if appropriate