Remediation Work starts at site next to COMS

[Way to Blue]

SOME GENERAL INFORMATION

Work starts on Eastlands site preparation
6 September 2010

Urban regeneration company, New East Manchester has announced that work will start today, Monday 6 September, on site preparation of a 17 acre plot (6.88 hectares) at Eastlands next to the City of Manchester stadium.

The £8 million project is being undertaken by remediation specialists Buckingham Group Contracting and follows extensive site investigations. The works, which include capping disused mine shafts from the former Bradford colliery, will take seven months.

Funded by the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA), Manchester City Council, the Northwest European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA), the scheme will make the land, which formed part of the site proposed for the regional casino, ready for future development.

The project builds on other investment by the four funding partners to support the continued development of Eastland’s sporting, leisure and economic infrastructure, including the new National Indoor BMX Centre and a network of new pedestrian and cycle links to the surrounding area, which are currently on site.

Eddie Smith, chief executive of New East Manchester said: "This is a crucial step towards bringing this strategically important piece of land back into use. When the right developer is found we want to be in a position to be ready to move quickly and deliver a scheme that will make Eastlands a leading international leisure and sporting destination. Not only do we want to create a scheme that will attract significant visitors to East Manchester and bring economic benefits to the whole North West region, but we also remain committed to creating employment opportunities for local people."

Councillor Jim Battle, Deputy Leader of Manchester City Council said: "This work is vital and will mean we can hit the ground running when the right scheme is found for the site. The investment will also speed up potential for bringing new jobs to the area, creating a lasting economic legacy for east Manchester residents."

Steven Broomhead, Chief Executive of the NWDA, managing the Northwest ERDF Programme, said: "These changes present a regeneration opportunity on a scale unprecedented in an English city. It’s another piece of the jigsaw in enabling East Manchester’s community to look forward to a brighter future."

"ERDF funding for the project will help tackle the industrial legacy of a key site within Eastlands, getting it ready for future private-sector led investment and accelerating the creation of new jobs for the region."

Deborah McLaughlin, North West Director of the Homes and Communities agency said: "The remediation brings us a step closer to getting the land back into productive use. Once the future public realm works are also complete, Eastlands will be poised to become a key destination, bringing with it job opportunities for local people."

Eastlands was originally built to host the 2002 Commonwealth Games and has created a lasting legacy since that time with facilities including the original stadium (now home to Manchester City FC), Manchester Regional Arena, National Squash Centre, Tennis Centre, English Institute of Sport, Manchester Velodrome and, most recently, the construction of the new National Indoor BMX Centre. Each year, over 400 events are held at the complex, attracting over 4.5m visitors and providing employment for local residents.

For more information on New East Manchester visit www.neweastmanchester.com.

For further information contact Roz Hughes at New East Manchester on 0161 223 1155.

For more media information, contact Kathryn Hayden/Lynn Caddy, communications managers for the North West on 01925 64 4605/4623 or email communicationsmanager@hca.gsx.gov.uk


Ends



Notes to Editors
The Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) is the single, national housing and regeneration delivery agency for England. Its role is to create opportunity for people to live in high-quality, sustainable places. It provides funding for affordable housing, brings land back into productive use and improves quality of life by raising standards for the physical and social environment.

New East Manchester (NEM) is an Urban Regeneration Company - a partnership between Manchester City Council, the national housing and regeneration agency Homes & Communities Agency and the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA). It is NEM's role to turn the Regeneration Framework into action, secure the required public and private funding, lead on specific major development projects and co-ordinate regeneration and renewal initiatives in the area.

The remediation work is funded as follows:
Homes and Communities Agency £ 2,743,140
Manchester City Council £ 1,370,631
ERDF £ 3,593,574
Northwest Regional Development Agency £450,000
Total £ 8,157,345

The European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) is making a real difference to people and businesses in the Northwest. With €755 million to invest between 2007 and 2013, ERDF is enhancing the competitiveness of the region’s economy by supporting growth in enterprise and employment.

ERDF in the Northwest is managed by the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA).

For further information please visit www.erdfnw.co.uk

[ronk]

The £8 million project is being undertaken by remediation specialists Buckingham Group Contracting and follows extensive site investigations. The works, which include capping disused mine shafts from the former Bradford colliery, will take seven months.

Shame. It might have taken longer and been more ambitious but it would have been amazing if it had been possible to do something more memorable and culturally significant with it than just sealing it off.

But it's nice that something is being done.