£100M Waverley Scheme To Create New Community

The regeneration of Waverley, once one of Europe’s biggest collieries is gathering pace. This 741 acre site, which covers an area bigger than Sheffield city centre is in the final stages of restoration following the closure of the coke works there in 1990. The huge reclamation project includes contouring the land for future development, restoring footpaths and creating two lakes a reservoir, all part of a masterplan by Harworth Estates, the property arm of UK Coal, to redevelop and transform this area into a sustainable, mixed use community complete with 4,000 new homes, community facilities and green spaces.

UK Coal and planners Atisreal have worked with the local community to bring this £100m plan to the public and are currently awaiting approval of outline planning from Rotherham Borough Council.

The site has come a long way since its days as a mining facility. Now the focus is firmly placed on the long term sustainability of this area and the creation of a 9,000 strong community over the next 20 years. Waverley will be the biggest brownfield site development to ever happen in South Yorkshire, taking it into the future as a place for living, working and recreation. Half the site will be made up of open space, woodland and 20 hectares of lakes and is already attracting a wide range of wildlife. A range of community and social amenities will be focussed around a central square and an array of mixed use leisure facilities will surround the lakeside.

A sophisticated drainage system and the introduction of the two new lakes and reservoir to the site will make sure that Waverley will in no way contribute to future flooding in the locality, a concern of local residents following the 2007 floods, which badly affected neighbouring Catcliffe. The system is designed to hold surface water run-off from the site and ensure that water runs into the river Rother at a controlled rate to reduce the risk of flooding downstream.

It is hoped council chiefs will give the project the go ahead in the summer with work starting immediately after that. The first phase will include houses, a primary school and transport systems, with South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive looking at a new interchange and park and ride facility for up to 1,000 cars.

UK Coal is also developing the nearby 100-acre Advanced Manufacturing Park in partnership with Yorkshire Forward. Planning for 646,000 sq ft of government office space adjacent to the park has also been requested creating 7,000 new jobs, which will provide a critical boost to the region’s economy as a whole