Work to expand Derbyshire's regeneration site is due to start next month after a visit to Markham Vale by Eric Pickles MP today confirmed Government cash is in the pipeline.

In January, the Government announced Markham Vale was to receive £14.2 million to turn the former Seymour Colliery site into prime economic land with the potential to create more than 2,000 more jobs in the area following a bid drawn-up by the county council and submitted through the Sheffield City Region's Enterprise Zone.

Added to a £12.5m contribution from the county council's private sector developer Henry Boot Developments Ltd, the cash will:


• Unlock a further 81 acres of land which already has outline planning permission for development

• Generate a further estimated £82 million of private sector investment

• Create capacity to bring an estimated 2,100 jobs to the area

• Carry out earthworks to prepare the ground for development plots capable of generating up to around 145,000 square metres of commercial floor space, as well as putting the relevant infrastructure in place for gas, electricity and water services.

• Widen the existing Erin Road.

• Build 100,000 sq ft of new industrial buildings.

In addition to this investment, a link road will also be built in 2015/16 to provide direct access to the site situated next to junction 29A of the M1. The road is estimated to cost £7.56 million and expected to be funded jointly by the county council and local transport boards for Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham and Nottinghamshire (D2N2) and Sheffield City Region (SCR).

(CD/MH)