HM Treasury has finally given its consent to the £172.3m required to deliver the long-delayed Avenue project, once seen as the flagship project which would demonstrate the growing capacity of the UK remediation industry.
It has agreed that East Midlands Development Agency and the Homes and Communities Agency can begin full remediation of the 98ha former coke works site near Chesterfield which has severe multiple contamination.
They intend to develop it for employment and residential use and open space.
The site is one of the most contaminated in western Europe and the project was the largest and most complex single one in English Partnerships' National Coalfields Programme, but although remediation contractors were appointed three years ago, funding was lacking.
Some work was done including draining and demolition of a chemical plant, remediation trials and clearance of 18ha to protect wildlife.
"The confirmation of funding from HM Treasury is very welcomed today," said HCA regional director Margaret Allen.
Remediation technologies to be used on the site will include soil washing, bio-remediation and thermal desorption, to allow the re-use of treated material for construction. The thermal desorption plant will be the largest yet seen in the UK and will be used to treat around 300,000t of the most contaminated material on site, running 24 hours a day for around three years.
"It marks the start of a major regeneration initiative which will in time provide usable public space, employment and homes for North East Derbyshire and beyond. That we can finally get underway is a testament to the commitment and hard work of all partners to deliver high quality, sustainable regeneration."
The coke works opened in 1956 and closed in 1992 and remediation is expected to take four years. The VSD Avenue consortium was appointed three years ago to carry out the project with partners Deme Environmental Contractors, Volker Stevin and Sita Remediation.
"EMDA has been working closely with a range of partners to make sure the remediation strategy is cost effective and to accelerate this major capital scheme which will stimulate the regional economy during these difficult times," said the Agency's executive director of regeneration Diana Gilhespy.
When the project is complete, around 70% of the site will be left as open space, nature or amenity areas.
