The former South Kirkby Colliery has been reclaimed by Wakefield Council utilising £3.77 million funding from English National Coalfields Programme and the European Regional Development Fund ReCHAR II Programme.

The site is allocated for industrial use in the local land use plan.

Approximately half the site has been reformed to create green public open space.  A further 26 hectares (64 acres) is being re-developed into a business park. Confirmed plans to date are as follows:

Vocational Training Centre

In November 2008 Wakefield Council allocated £3 million targeted capital grant from central government to support the development of a vocational training facility.  The funding has been made available as part of the national drive to engage all young people in learning through varied and flexible routes through school and into post-16 education and training. 

Plans for the project will be co-ordinated by Family Services in conjunction with the South East Learning Community. 

Planning permission was granted in October 2009 and construction will commence in Spring 2010.

The role of the Vocational Training Centre is to:

• Work closely with local businesses, support the needs of local employers and develop relevant projects.
• Focus provision on enterprise activities.
• Support increased delivery of diplomas, foundation learning and apprenticeships to support the 'skills agenda'.

Waste Management Facility

A third of the site has been designated for a waste management and recycling facility for Wakefield Council and planning consent was granted in November 2008.  It is hoped that construction of this facility will start in Spring 2010. 

The scheme is part of a £700M Private Finance Initiative between VT Engineering and Wakefield Council and will also include a Visitor/Education Centre to promote recycling and environmental awareness in the community.

Further information can be found on the following web pages: www.wakefieldrecycling.com (see 'Related Links')

The plant will include:

• A new Household Waste Recycling Centre
• A Visitor/Education Centre - to promote recycling and awareness in the community.
• A Green Waste Composting Facility
• A Materials Recovery Facility - which  sorts mixed recyclable material collected from households.
• An Autoclave Plant - to treat general household waste
• An Anaerobic Digestion Plant - to produce sustainable electricity to run the plant.

Other

Developers are still bringing forward proposals for the remainder of the site.

A dedicated access to the site, which connects to the Hemsworth A1 Link Road, opened in November 2009.

Last updated: 4 January 2010