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Around 1,000 new jobs will be created as facilities including retail outlets, restaurants and cafes along with a medical centre, day nursery, community centre and parkland, are developed on the site of the former Prince of Wales Colliery, Pontefract, the oldest colliery in Britain when it closed six years ago.
The Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, Hazel Blears, through the Government Office for Yorkshire and the Humber, has concluded her intervention in the decision by Wakefield Metropolitan Council to approve the project, "would not be justified". The Council Planning Committee members had unanimously approved the site development masterplan, but their decision had to be referred to the Secretary of State.
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Mining activities on the site, located adjacent to J32 of the M62 and close to the M1 and A1, date back to the 1860s, but ceased in August 2002.
Following initial discussions, a partnership was forged in July 2006 between UK COAL, Wakefield Council and other organisations with the objective of the site being developed as the gateway to a five-town renaissance in West Yorkshire. The Council's Planning Committee had unanimously approved the development project in August, but were required to refer the proposals for government endorsement.
UK COAL Chief Executive Jon Lloyd: "The decision by the Secretary of State now paves the way for the regeneration of an area with excellent communication links, a versatile and enthusiastic workforce and a community with a desire to move forward."
(CD/JM)
