Construction began this week on the first of the 1,200 new homes planned at Torne Park, the former Rossington Colliery site near Doncaster.
Harworth Estates, the UK property regeneration company owned by Harworth Group plc, has spent the past 18 months undertaking land preparation works for the first phase of development of Torne Park that will deliver up to 166 new homes over the next two years. Harworth secured outline planning consent in December 2012 for a mixed-use scheme, including up to 1,200 new homes, commercial buildings, food retail, a school and a health centre.
Harron Homes began constructing 70 homes earlier this week as part of the first phase of the development after obtaining detailed planning consent from Doncaster Council. The company plans to deliver a range of four-bed detached homes, as well as private amenity features and tree planting in public spaces, to create an attractive living environment.
Taylor Wimpey also received detailed planning consent this week for up to 96 new homes. The company plans to deliver a mixture of detached and semi-detached homes in a high-quality landscape.
The development of Torne Park has been unlocked by the construction of the Finningley and Rossington Regeneration Route Scheme (FARRRS) link road, a new highway from Junction 3 of the M18 to the A638 at Parrot’s Corner. Led by Doncaster Council, the £56m scheme, funded by the Regional Growth Fund, Harworth Estates, Peel Group and Verdion, began in autumn 2013 and is expected to be completed by Carillion in January 2016.
In addition to unlocking new housing development, the road also unlocks commercial development for Verdion to develop its Inland Port project and significantly reduces journey times to Doncaster’s Robin Hood Doncaster Sheffield Airport.
Tim Love, Director of Strategic Land at Harworth Estates, said: “This is a milestone for Harworth Estates as a company and for the FARRRS project as a whole. It is testament to the hard work of all those involved in the programme that we’ve reached this stage and we look forward to delivering our promise of up to 1,200 new homes over the next 10 years”.
Katie Charlesworth, Sales & Marketing Director at Harron Homes, said: “We’re delighted to begin work at Torne Park. We have asked the Mayor of Doncaster to name this part of the development and she has selected ‘Heatherfields at Torne Park’. We will now be building the first showhomes which will be opened by the Mayor later this year.”
Ian Thomson, Land Director of Taylor Wimpey Yorkshire, said “Taylor Wimpey Yorkshire are delighted to be involved in this project. The scheme is an exciting regeneration opportunity and enables us to strengthen our presence in Doncaster through the delivery of quality homes.”
Peter Dale, Director of Regeneration and Environment at Doncaster Council, said: “It is fantastic to see house building starting at Torne Park, which really shows that the FARRRS development is coming to fruition. The scheme will create new jobs and opportunities for people in Doncaster, and these new homes will feed in to this exciting period of growth.”