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UK’s first sustainable business park to be built in Kent
Betteshanger Colliery, a former mining site in Kent will be transformed into the UK’s first sustainable business park by construction firm Willmott Dixon.
The construction project will cost around £40m and will see the former Batteshanger Colliery site becoming a business hub where sustainable technologies will be developed and demonstrated which providing a base for educational in the region.
It’s estimated that the total regeneration and development of the 121 hectare site will cost £120m with planning permission being granted for the sustainable business facilities, eco-tourism and research and development buildings.
The first phase of development is completed in spring 2016 and includes the construction of a £7.5m sustainable energy visitor centre and country park as well as the construction of the business and commercial park.
Phase 2 of the build is set to see the construction of and education and enterprise campus complex as well as a further extension of the country park and its facilities (although phase 2 has yet to be granted planning permission).
It’s envisaged that this facility with its relative close proximity to London will become one of the world’s leading business centres for green technologies which will link both sustainable technologies innovation with business enterprise and tourism.
Architect Tim Evans said: “The first thing you will see on arrival is the mining museum. From the museum it will be the conference centre, cafe, and on the other side of the kitchen is a retail unit.”
Contractors Wilmott Dixon will use local firms and apprentices. Although a steel structure will be used, many sustainable building supplies will be included and including the cladding the buildings with a pre-treated timber covering. “It will be pre-weathered with a charred effect in keeping with the dark painted farm buildings in the area,” Mr Evans added.
Richard Morsley, director of Betteshanger Sustainable Parks said: “This moment has been a really long time in coming for the local community and for those who have worked tirelessly to have something meaningful on this site ever since Betteshanger Colliery closed in 1989.
“Betteshanger Sustainable Parks represents more than the redevelopment of this former colliery site. It’s a project that will regenerate this part of east Kent preserving its history and heritage, delivering jobs, education and training and in doing so, a new future for often forgotten mining communities.”