Thoresby Vale, Edwinstowe | A Project by Harworth Group plc

Overview & Vision

Located within walking distance of Edwinstowe and within easy commuting distance of Sheffield, Nottingham and mainline stations at Doncaster, Newark and Retford, Thoresby Vale is a residential-led scheme situated amongst some of the region’s most popular woodlands, forests and leisure attractions.

Following the closure of Thoresby Colliery in July 2015, the site was subsequently purchased by Harworth Group for restoration and development before being renamed to ‘Thoresby Vale, Edwinstowe’ to maintain the link with its heritage and the neighbouring village.

After receiving outline planning consent in October 2017, in early 2019, the scheme received full planning permission to deliver its vision of 800 new homes ranging from apartments and starter homes, through to five-bedroom houses and a retirement village over a 10-year period. Land will also be engineered to build a new primary school on site. Up to 250,000 sq ft of new commercial space – expected to create around 1,000 jobs – and 20,000 sq ft of leisure employment space has also been given consent.

View CGI Masterplan >

Development Progress

Since its closure in 2015, Harworth has been transforming the former Thoresby Colliery site in Nottinghamshire into Thoresby Vale, Edwinstowe, a new community of 800 homes alongside a range of local amenities. Over 350 serviced residential plots have now been sold to Harron Homes, David Wilson Homes and Barratt Developments plc with the first homeowners already living on site. Harworth has exchanged on the sale of serviced land with Barratt and David Wilson Homes capable of delivering a further 174 homes. Alongside the new homes, Barratt and David Wilson Homes will provide a new surface water attenuation pond and a multi-use path and associated landscaping, which will enhance connectivity and link to the site’s planned primary school and local centre.

Demolition and clearance operations of the pit heads and infrastructure completed in Q2 2018. The works included permanently filling and capping the two mine shafts. With development works ongoing, we are now over half way through the delivery of the second phase of earthworks which will facilitate the remainder of the residential parcels, central water attenuation feature and open space and will also facilitate the development plato for the new primary school.

Works to form the eastern access have commenced and are due for completion in early 2023 which creates the access for the future employment zone and will serve as the construction access for the remainder of the development parcels thus helping to separate construction and residents access.

The original welders workshop building has been retained and will be restored in due course to maintain the heritage of the site and accommodate a range of community and leisure uses as part of the new local centre. Plans are being devised for the Workshop building and we hope to submit a planning application in 2023.

The restoration of the spoil heap, which commenced in 2016, is nearing completion with over half of this land now transformed to heathland that is consistent with the local landscape. This has facilitated the creation of a new 350-acre country, phased opening of the park is anticipated in 2023. The highest vantage point for miles around the country park will offer unrivalled panoramic views of Sherwood Forest. With multiple ecological habitats and significant areas of green infrastructure the aim is the creation of an interconnected landscape linking the site with the surrounding landscape and to integrate the development seamlessly into the local environment and to enhance the biodiversity of the local habitat.

This site is a remnant of the historic Sherwood Forest and contains the best remaining examples of oak-birch woodland in Nottinghamshire together with tracts of acid grassland and heath. The success of the new woodland plantations is not only an important contribution to achieving net-zero carbon targets, but the restoration of the peripheral broadleaved plantation woodland encourages native species to re-establish and results in more natural woodlands that extend, connect and buffer existing woodlands, including the SSSI.

We are providing opportunities for wildlife species, as a result of our Woodland Management works 14 rare birds including protected species not previously recorded since monitoring commenced have been recorded living onsite during 2020-21 such as the Welsh Clearwing Moth. Nightjar hadn’t been recorded onsite for the last five years which can be directly attributed to the woodland management works that have improved the spoil heaps habitat.

As a further commitment to enhancing the ecology and wildlife of the local landscape Harworth has recently partnered with Nottinghamshire County Council to as part of a wider initiative for the neighbouring Sherwood Forest to provide inclusive cycle trails and enhanced walking and cycling connectivity for residents and visitors.