Ironbridge Power Station sale: Regeneration a ‘once in a lifetime opportunity’
The regeneration of the Ironbridge power Station site offers a once in a lifetime chance to do something important, business leaders and councillors said today.
Community figures in Ironbridge said the work could potentially put the Gorge on the national economic map, as well as help fix several existing issues in the town, including parking.
Councillor Nicola Lowery, borough councillor for the Gorge, said initial meetings with the Harworth Group had been encouraging.
She said: “Harworth Group have a strong track record in the regeneration of industrial sites, are highly experienced in bringing life to brownfield sites and are very much at the forefront of regeneration in the UK. The future of the former Ironbridge Power Station and the opportunities that it presents for economic growth are significant.”
Richard Eley, of Eley’s Pork Pies in Ironbridge, said: “I believe whatever it is used for needs to benefit the local community in some way. I think mixed use of the site is okay, but this is a chance to tackle the age old problem in Ironbridge, which is parking.
“This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for Ironbridge to alleviate the parking issues, and I think something that a lot of people don’t realise is that the walk from the power station, along the old railway line and to the Iron Bridge is an easy 10 minute walk.”
“It could be open 12 months a year, it’s easy for dog walking, cycling and has level access.”
Jordan Ash, assistant manager of the White Hart, said: “Parking; that’s always been an issue in Ironbridge.
“Apart from that I think affordable flats would be good as there’s houses around and even if they were to build more new houses I don’t know how many people would be able to afford them.
“It would be good to have some kind of green space there if we could and keep some of it more natural as I think it would be a shame if it were all to be built up.”
Sarah Greenow, from Grays of Shropshire, said: “I think if there are going to be more houses built there, then they need to make sure there’s the infrastructure put in place for what will be needed. Things such as doctors and surgeries and things to support the people of Ironbridge.
“I was in the NHS at Newport for 25 years and I’ve seen it happen before.
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“It would be very positive for many businesses to have an influx of housing built, but schools and doctors which are already under stress would be put under even more pressure.
“People will come into the town and spend more money but otherwise it just drains the existing economy of certain resources.
“It would be nice if they can keep some wildlife as well, like a conservation area with some bike trails and walking trails to and from the town.”
Harworth Group: How firm transforms industrial sites all around UK
Rotherham
The Waverley site on the former Orgreave coking plant in Rotherham is claimed to be Yorkshire’s largest brownfield redevelopment scheme.
The site hit the headlines during the 1984/5 miners’ strike for the infamous clashes between police and pickets.
The 750-acre site is now being redeveloped by Harworth Group with a £50 million shopping complex, nearly 4,000 new homes, and a business park.
Bolton
The former open-cast mining site between Bolton and Salford is being transformed into a centre for the manufacturing and logistics industries, as well as a 550-acre country park.
Harworth says its 250-acre Logistics North site will create more than four million square feet of bespoke industrial buildings in a range of different sizes. Aldi has opened a 650,000 sq ft north-west distribution headquarters at the site.
Pontefract
The 78-acre Prince of Wales Colliery site in Pontefract, West Yorkshire, was producing more than 1.5 million tons of coal a year until it closed in 2002.
Harworth is now redeveloping the site as a mixed-use development made up of 917 homes and 231,424.07 sq ft of employment development.
A former spoil heap next to the pit yard will become a new country park, providing new public open space for the community.
Leeds
Another former open-cast mine on the outskirts of Leeds is now being developed into what is billed as the region’s largest on-going commercial development.
In March 2016 Harworth bought a 50 per cent share in Aire Valley Land, which owns the Gateway45 site previously known as Temple Green. The site is next to Junction 45 of the M1 and is viewed as a major logistics and industrial development site, extending to 166 acres.
Rossington
The former Rossington Colliery in Doncaster is being turned into a giant housing development which forms part of a wider regeneration scheme that will also create about 5,000 jobs.
Harworth’s secured outline planning permission in 2012 for a mixed-use development including up 1,200 new homes, commercial buildings, a food store, school and health centre.
A new link-road was built joining Rossington to the M18.
Doncaster
For 60 years, the McCormick works in Doncaster was one of Britain’s most important tractor manufacturers, but in 2007 it was announced that the company would finally be shutting its doors.
The 112-acre site was bought by Harworth in 2015, with outline consent having already been obtained for 800 homes and more than 200,000 sq ft of employment space. The company plans a housing scheme.
Barnsley
The former Rockingham Colliery in Barnsley has been transformed into a large industrial and leisure development known as Gateway 36.
The first phase of the scheme, which takes its name from its location close to Junction 36 of the M1, featured 198,000 sq ft of commercial space. Early developments included a Greene King pub and new units for KFC, Dunkin’ Donuts and Taco Bell. A 75,000 sq ft building called Helix followed.
