Events

Polkemmet Restoration - West Lothian Council/Ecosse Regeneration

Local regeneration and renewal award commendation 2011

Summary

The large scale redevelopment of a former colliery site between Edinburgh and Glasgow is a very good example of vision, commitment and partnership working with the community and local authority.

Background

Polkemmet Restoration 2.jpg

Polkemmet was both a deep pit and an opencast coal mine, situated in the Heartlands area between Edinburgh and Glasgow close to Whitburn. At its peak it employed 2,000 people providing prosperity for Whitburn. It closed in 1986 and has been derelict ever since.

The site is very extensive covering some 470 hectares stretching to the urban boundaries of Whitburn and adjoining the M8 Edinburgh/Glasgow motorway. The dereliction of the site was extensive and visually damaging, and the closure of the colliery had severe adverse economic and social consequences for Whitburn and the neighbouring communities. A number of schemes for regeneration of the site had been unsuccessful.

Project description

Ecosse Regeneration have worked with West Lothian Council to develop a scheme for the regeneration of the site to include 2000 homes, 4,000 new jobs and retail and leisure facilities (2 golf courses). To implement this development it has been necessary to excavate the shallow remaining coal reserves (some 1.36 million tonnes) and removal of the bings (spoil tips), including one that was continually burning and causing health hazards to the local community. Most of the spoil tips have been relocated on-site to provide landscaping and materials for the future development. A new motorway junction will be formed to serve the site.

The regeneration of the site has been informed by the provision of a masterplan for the site which has been adopted by the Council. Planning permission was obtained in 2004.

Planning achievement

The extent of the re-use of materials and soil is impressive, very little is taken off site;
The scale of investment is significant and involves an element of risk as very extensive investment was necessary up front. All the ground works and restoration are now complete and development is now beginning to take place;
Community engagement was extensive and well thought out to the extent that only one objection was received to the application;
This is a very good example of vision, commitment and partnership working with the community and local authority;
The outcome so far and the prospect of the rest of the development which as well as regenerating the site will do much to regenerate local communities is impressive.