The Leeds designer outlet - that's 15 miles from Leeds

The Junction 32 retail park off the M62 has become a symbol of the revival of Castleford since the collapse of the mining industry - yet a rebrand of the designer outlet has gone down poorly with locals.

The centre has been renamed Frasers Plus Designer Outlet Leeds - despite being around 15 miles (24km) from the city itself.

Retail giant Frasers Group bought Junction 32 from previous owners Land Securities in 2023. Its stores include Adidas, M&S, Nike and Next.

"It is not Leeds, it is Castleford!" say shoppers Brenda and Betty.

The friends are visiting the outlet village for "a bit of a social and a walk around" when they stop to chat to the BBC.

"We just said how misleading it is to people who are not from around here."

It is not the first time the shopping centre has changed its name. It was originally called Freeport Castleford when it opened in 1999 as the biggest outlet development in Europe, creating 1,600 jobs.

By 2006, the Junction 32 name had been adopted by the then-owners, Hermes Investment Management.

"I still call it Freeport, you still call it Junction 32," Brenda laughs to Betty.

"Nobody is ever going to call it Frasers whatever."

The designer outlet was built on the former Glasshoughton Colliery site as part of the town's regeneration after the closure of the pits. Nearby is the indoor ski slope and leisure complex Xscape.

It first opened with 150 shops, selling designer clothing and goods at discount prices.

This offering is what keeps Pam Hill returning to the centre today, but the regular visitor is not keen on the change of name.

"I do not think I would recognise the name. I would not know where it was or where I was going, maybe it is trying to be upmarket?" she poses.

The 77-year-old adds that the rebranding is "odd" and "confusing" to her, given how "iconic" the Junction 32 branding now is to people in the Castleford area.

Alyssa Stark, who shops at Junction 32 around once a month, says the original Freeport was "something for the people to be proud of".

"It is sad because there should be lots more here, but that is the way it is.

"I am still going to call it Junction 32, people are still calling it Freeport - it makes no difference."

Retail expert Catherine Shuttleworth says the rebrand "makes sense" following the switch in ownership, however it may not change very much for regular visitors.

"I guess many local shoppers will still refer to it as they did before," she says.

"What shoppers really need to know is what's there, what can I buy and what's new.

"They do not want to risk travelling to outlets if there are no stores they are interested in - and over the years this centre has changed its tenant mix."

It is clear why shoppers are baffled. Frasers Plus Designer Outlet Leeds is just two miles from Castleford - a nine-minute drive from the town centre. Yet Leeds is 15 miles away, a half-hour journey by car.

Customer Spike Goodall says: "It is just a name, it is still the same place, nothing has changed.

"But we are not in Leeds!"

A spokesperson for Frasers Group said: "We aim to boost footfall from across the region with this naming rights arrangement, helping to bring additional great brands and economic benefits to a broader community."

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