Background to redevelopment proposals

CEG acquired the site in 2003. Since its closure, efforts to find new occupiers for the large industrial complex have proven unsuccessful as the site is unable to compete against more modern facilities that have better links to the primary road network.

Through discussions with District Council Officers and the Parish Council, various potential alternative uses for the site have been investigated. To assist this, a number of studies were completed to understand the constraints attached to any development proposals.

A number of studies completed included:

• A landscape assessment to enable a comparison to be made between the visual impact of any new development and that of the existing buildings
• An ecological survey and detailed tree survey to identify features of wildlife significance on the site
• An archaeological survey and trial-trenching of the site to detect any items of historic significance
• A traffic assessment to determine the traffic flows that would be produced by the industrial, commercial or residential development of the site
• A ground investigation report, which identified the large amount of tipping and earth moving that had taken place on the site over the last 60 years
• A structural survey of the viaduct to establish the cost of bringing it back into use for pedestrians and cyclists and form part of the National Cycle Route that would link Wetherby with Tadcaster

After it was found that there was no demand for using the site for manufacturing, warehousing or distribution purposes, the concept of developing a mixed housing and office development emerged.

An architect and landscape architect were appointed to advise on the design concept for the site and help develop the project masterplan.