Planning consent for a £100 million urban village comprising 630 homes, a local centre and enhanced sports facilities has been granted to Key Property Investments (KPI) and Ashtenne Land Ltd (Ashtenne) on the 64-acre former Vulcan Works site at Newton-le-Willows, where rail locomotives were once built.
KPI is the joint venture company between St Modwen Properties PLC and Salhia Real Estate Co, and Ashtenne is a Warner Estate Holdings PLC company.
The site was acquired in 2002 from Marconi in two separate deals by KPI and Ashtenne who subsequently formed a joint venture to undertake the comprehensive redevelopment of the whole site. This will be transformed into one of the North West region¹s major new residential communities.
In addition to the housing, of which ten per cent will be affordable homes, consent has been given for retail and community facilities including a local sports centre through the redevelopment and enhancement of the former sports field.
The new sports facilities will include a rugby pitch and two football pitches, bowling green, pavilion, rifle range and multi-play area.
Plans for the redevelopment of the former works site were initiated in 2002 and over the next four years there were lengthy discussions, the submission of planning application, a call-in of the application by the Government Office for the North West, followed by a three-day public enquiry.
In the meantime, St Modwen has been carrying out a programme of remediation works to make the site ready for this development.
The main programme of works is scheduled to begin later this year and the development programme will be phased over six years. The initial phase will comprise demolition of the remaining factory buildings, new roads and the construction of 150 new dwellings.
Ray Hill of St Modwen, said: ³Further ground remediation is required because of the site¹s 170 years of industrial use but we are looking forward to the challenge of regenerating this hugely important site to provide a wide range of new homes, a local centre and a first class recreation facility to serve a larger area.
³We have been working closely with the Environment Agency and have been grateful for the support received both from St Helens Council and local residents.²
Michael Stevens, property director of Warner Estate, said: ³This is a truly mixed-use scheme that acknowledges the history and importance of the Works to this community and supports the sustainable renewal of the site to create an accessible space for residents, the workforce and the community.
³The teams have worked hard to bring the project to this landmark stage, with the support of the local residents and their council.²
* Vulcan Works has an illustrious history dating back to the 1830s when if was founded for the building of steam locomotives. The business rapidly expanded during the Victorian era and by the outbreak of the First World War had produced 3,000 locomotives, many of which were exported throughout the world. During both world wars the factory supplied the war effort with munitions, tanks and weapon parts.
The last steam locomotive was completed in 1956 after which production of diesel and electric locomotives continued until 1970. In its latter years the Works produced diesel engines to power locomotives, ships, power stations and other heavy engineering projects.
For further information contact Ray Hill of St Modwen (0121 222 9400).
Issued by Paul Raymer of Howle Chapman Raymer (0121 236 7771).
