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National Coalfields Programme
The National Coalfields Programme assists former coalfield communities across England by creating new employment, homes, leisure facilities and public space.
English Partnerships manages 107 sites (six new sites added in March 2007 to the previous 101sites) working with Regional Development Agencies, the Alliance, Coalfields Regeneration Trust and other key local and private-sector partners.
We work with our many partners and local people to find creative, sustainable ways of rebuilding former coalfield communities, and engaging them in shaping the vision.
The programme works to:
- create high standards of sustainability
- act as a catalyst for land acquisition, site assembly, remediation and master planning
- devise and encourage innovation in remediation
- insist on active involvement of local communities.
Progress
March 2007 marked the 10th anniversary of the National Coalfields Programme and the successes are now emerging from £414m public-sector investment to date which has levered in £753m of private finance. The impact of this investment is clearly visible in many former coalfield communities.
Since the programme start in 1997 it has; (Up until March 2008 ):
- reclaimed 2,015 ha of brownfield land, often using innovative and sustainable techniques to improve the environment
- created 821,500 sq m of commercial floor space, adopting sustainable design standards and practice
- built 2,439 homes, helping to meet the Government's targets for homes built on previously developed land
- created 16,631 jobs, breathing new life into communities and providing opportunities for economic development.
Programme Objectives
The National Coalfields Programme is on course to deliver:
- new uses for around 4,000 ha of former coalfield land
- 42,000 new jobs
- 2 million sq m of commercial floorspace
- 10,000 new homes
- over £2bn of private-sector investment
- far-reaching benefits for local communities
Complementary Initiatives
In managing the National Coalfields Programme, we look beyond the site remediation process and seek to add further value for the benefit of coalfield communities through innovative schemes such as Network Space and Priority Sites.
The Sites
Announced in late 2007, Bickershaw Colliery near Wigan has been brought forward by the North West Regional Development Agency along with Brodsworth Colliery in Doncaster by the Regional Development Agency – Yorkshire Forward, to be part of the Carbon Challenge programme.
The developments are expected to deliver new homes to Code level 6 and the other quality standards of the Carbon Challenge sites.
Bickershaw and Brodsworth are the first partner sites to be included in the Carbon Challenge which are not owned by English Partnerships.
Explore the map with your mouse for coalfield site lists in each region:
Detailed maps of each region are also available to download as PDFs:
A brochure outlining our work is available to download or to order from the Publications page.
