North Derbyshire residents demand action on 'stinking' former Coalite chemical works as development faces delays

It might not quite be the all-pervading stench created when the works were in full swing, but is still leaves a metallic taste in the mouth.

Many residents say they have simply become used to it and most seem more concerned that the cause of the smell – the derelict eyesore site which has been blighting the landscape for more than 15 years – remains desolate and empty.

Which is why this week’s news that completion of the site could now be delayed until 2030, six years later than forecast, has been met with dismay in Shuttlewood, Bolsover and surrounding areas.

Sharon Scott, 56, who lives on Chesterfield Road, Shuttlewood, said: “Ten years seems a long time to be waiting when we had to put up with it this long already.

"People talk about the smell and it’s still noticeable. It looks so desolate and unloved. It would be good for the community in the long-term to get it completely cleared and bring some jobs in.”

Work has been taking place over the past four years to clear the site for a huge business park covering 105 acres.

Last summer, the developers behind the scheme said their original plans to build 660 homes alongside a raft of business space had been scrapped due to the realignment of HS2 through the site.

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It said the business space would instead be substantially increased and work would start in 2020 and be complete by 2024.

The original plan had been to see the scheme completed by the end of the 2019/2020 financial year.

However, papers published by Derbyshire County Council say the expected completion date is now 2030, the Local Democracy Reporting service said last week.

In Bolsover town centre, Mike Staniforth, 61, was unimpressed.

"The developers have had so long to make progress with it,” he said. “Everyone in Bolsover knows about Coalite because it used to be such a big employer.

"Now that site is just a bit of an embarrassment. In other parts of the country it would have been replaced by now. It also stinks.”

Bolsover MP Mark Fletcher called this week for ‘urgent clarity’ on the site.

"More sheds is not the right way forward and we need to assess whether there are better plans for regeneration in the local area,” he said.

Bolsover district councillor Nick Clarke, portfolio holder for carbon reduction efficiencies, described the site as ‘an eyesore’ and said ‘the smells emanating from there can be quite pungent at times’.

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"It’s interesting to learn of the differing accounts of a completion date between Bolsover Land Ltd and Derbyshire County Council,” Coun Clark added.

"Obviously the sooner it is completed and the uptake of units begin the better it will be for Bolsover and hopefully bring much needed employment to the area which has been blighted in recent decades.”

Councillor Bernard Haigh, chair of Old Bolsover Town Council, said: “The council continues to support total restoration of the largest brown field site in the town.

"Once completed it will offer further employment and recreational leisure opportunities to local people.”

Bolsover Land Limited, a joint venture between St Francis Group and iSec, started work on what it calls the ‘Horizon 29’ development earlier this year.

In April, the firms said the delivery of the first completed plots were expected by 2021 with further applications for the rest of the site.

It upholds this position and the potential delay appears to be a difference in definition of ‘complete’ – with the developer leaning towards the first buildings being ready to lease and the council erring towards full site completion and projected job creation.

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This was confirmed by the council, the Local Democracy Reporting service said.

Meanwhile, the council and developer appear to disagree about the impact of HS2’s realignment on the development.

A county council spokesman said: “The change from mixed-use development to wholly industrial and commercial usage and securing the necessary regulatory approvals delayed the project development stages.

“As you say, this was caused by HS2.

“The physical works in terms of completing the remediation, constructing the necessary infrastructure and preparing the development plots for sale and development will be completed by the 2024 date.

“The 2030 date in the council plan refresh reflects an end-date when all proposed new buildings are sold and fully occupied by businesses who have created new jobs.”

Gareth Williams, the development director for St Francis Group, said: “Our intention is to complete the development of the site as soon as possible.

“HS2 will not delay development beyond the timeline of our current business plan.

“Subject to occupiers’ demand for the consented units, the intention is still to complete development by the end of 2024 at the latest.

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