The regeneration of Ebbw Vale steel works, following the closure of the 80ha industrial site in July 2002, has seen Halcrow involved in everything from land reclamation, through to master plans and planning consent.
The complex and challenging project is revitalising Ebbw Vale and the surrounding area, setting the highest standards in design quality and sustainability.
Ultimately, the site will offer:
- over 700 homes
- a new hospital
- a learning centre
- 2,000 jobs from local businesses
- a new rail link
- 20ha of open and green space, including a wetland area
Integrating the site into the surrounding landscape was important to our design for the reclamation works. Our geotechnical and environmental assessments identified mining hazards and areas of instability, and we developed clean-up criteria for the site.
As part of our management of the planning process, we carried out extensive public consultation. Outline planning consent was achieved for the £350 million development in July 2007.
Our work has enabled numerous innovations to be incorporated, including:
- a funicular rail system and footway linking the site with the town centre – the significant difference in height between them had effectively segregated them until the link was made
- using sub-structures and basements from the former steelworks to create car parks, sunken gardens, bodies of water, arts projects, office space and climbing walls
- partnering with local schools to develop a wetland area and environmental resources centre
- combining reclaimed industrial waste with organic material to manufacture 90,000m³ of soil, thereby avoiding having to import topsoil
- a management system to track the project’s progress, including the number of local jobs created, green travel performance and wildlife species attracted to the site