Thoresby Vale, Edwinstowe.

Thoresby Colliery closed in July 2015 with the loss of 400 jobs and ending nine decades of mining on site. The redevelopment proposals evolved as a result of extensive stakeholder engagement and pre-application discussions. The consultation process included two stakeholder workshops, a public exhibition (both included Land Rover tours), and a Zip Wire event, all held at Thoresby Colliery.

The extensive and innovative approach to engagement from the outset ensured input was provided early in the process, which has secured stakeholder ‘buy in’ and a desire to deliver a quality development. Changes were incorporated into the masterplan early, enabling application submission in December 2016. This significantly reduced delays and costs and demonstrates the value of positive stakeholder engagement.

The positive approach to stakeholder engagement, provided the basis for the successful allocation of the site in the emerging Local Plan and outline planning permission was secured in March 2019. Our experts co-ordinated the planning delivery strategy, and following a series of enabling works applications and reserved matters approvals, work on the site is progressing well helping to transform the vision into reality.

Harworth Group’s objective is to create sustainable places where people want to live and work. The client brief was to secure planning permission for a high quality, mixed use strategic development on the site of the former Thoresby Colliery, despite the fact that there was no policy basis for major development in this location.

Our expert solution to the client brief was to develop a vision for the site to deliver housing, employment, leisure, tourism and connectivity, and to demonstrate how the proposals could act as a catalyst for wider regeneration and change within North Nottinghamshire.

Our role was to prepare evidence to the emerging Local Plan which resulted in the allocation of Thoresby Vale as a Strategic Regeneration Site and to lead the consultant team in the preparation and submission of an outline planning application for mixed use development. The application was accompanied by an Environmental Impact Assessment and planning permission was granted in March 2019.

Our team has been retained to provide overall planning project management to oversee the delivery of the site. This has involved the submission of reserved matters for enabling works and phased development and the discharge of planning conditions. To date, the details of more than 350 dwellings have been approved, which are now under construction.

In August 2021, we submitted a planning application for a multi-use cycling facility at the heart of the scheme, which will include a “Learn to Ride” area and mini pump track, as well as a modular cycling hub, which will host a café and other amenities.

We are currently working with the design team on proposals for a new primary school on the site, to be delivered by Harworth. It is anticipated that the planning application will be submitted early in 2022.