Ravenscraig
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Coordinates: 55°47′31″N 3°58′03″W / 55.792017°N 3.967524°W
| Ravenscraig | |
  Ravenscraig shown within Scotland |
|
| Population | 0 |
|---|---|
| - Density | 0/sq mi (0/km²) |
| OS grid reference | |
| - Edinburgh | 41 mi (66 km) |
| - London | 393 mi (632 km) |
| Council area | North Lanarkshire Council |
| Lieutenancy area | Motherwell |
| Constituent country | Scotland |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | MOTHERWELL |
| Postcode district | ML1-ML2 (part) |
| Dialling code | 01698 |
| Police | |
| Fire | |
| Ambulance | Scottish |
| European Parliament | Scotland |
| UK Parliament | Motherwell and Wishaw |
| Scottish Parliament | Motherwell and Wishaw |
| Central Scotland | |
| Website: [2] | |
| List of places: UK • Scotland | |
Ravenscraig is an area of land located in North Lanarkshire, Scotland. Ravenscraig was previously inhabited by steel industry workers as it was formerly the site of Ravenscraig steelworks. Once the largest hot strip steel mill in Western Europe, the steelworks closed in 1992, and is now almost totally demolished.
Ravenscraig is now in the process of a major redevelopment by Wilson Bowden Developments Ltd, Scottish Enterprise and Corus.
Contents |
[edit] Location
Ravenscraig is one of the most accessible places in Scotland, with over two thirds of Scotland’s population within 90 minutes drive time.
Located in North Lanarkshire, Ravenscraig lies between the towns of Wishaw and Motherwell, who together house a population of over 60,000.
Ravenscraig lies only a few minutes drive from both the M74 and the M8 motorways which lead to Glasgow and Edinburgh, Scotland's two largest cities, allowing easy access for commuters and visitors to the area.
A rail line travels directly through the site and another travels around the opposite end of the site.
[edit] History
A major expansion of Colvilles, the largest steel manufacturer in the United Kingdom before World War II,[1] was approved in July 1954 by the Iron and Steel Board.[2]
In 1954 the first stages of development began in Ravenscraig turning a green field into a site for steelworks. By 1957 several coke ovens, a by-products plant, a blast furnace and an open hearth melting shop with three steelmaking furnaces were built, and by 1959 a stripmill was complete.[3]
The closure of Ravenscraig in 1993 signalled the end of large scale steel making in Scotland;[4] and was the cause of a loss of 770 jobs, and another 10,000 job losses directly and indirectly linked.[5]
[edit] Current State
In its current state, Ravenscraig is one of the largest derelict sites in Europe measuring over 1,125 acres (4.55 km2) in size, an area equivalent to 700 football pitches or twice the size of Monaco.[6][7] The main spine of the new road network has been constructed and there are facilities onsite to help decontaminate the River Calder which suffered during the years Ravenscraig was in operation.[8] There are also plantations designed to encourage diversity in the site wildlife.
[edit] Future Plans
After many years of planning, Ravenscraig will be 'regenerated' and rebuilt by three equal shareholders: Wilson Bowden Developments Ltd, Scottish Enterprise and Corus. The project will be one of the largest regenerations in Europe, with 400 acres (1.6 km2) being developed.
Ravenscraig will be home to several new facilities:
| New Facilities |
|---|
| 3,500 new homes [9] |
| A new town centre with 84,000 m² of retail and leisure space |
| Up to 216,000 m² of business and industrial space |
| Major parkland areas |
| A new transport network |
| New sports facility [10] |
| A new college campus |
| Two new schools |
| A hotel |
Part of the development will be to create new habitats for the wildlife already living in the area, such as deer, foxes, hares, otters, badgers, watervoles, butterflies and birds such as the wader, song thrush and the little ringed plover, with an Ecological Clerk of Works appointed to 'ensure compliance with Ravenscraig Ltd.’s aims and objectives by all developers and contractors.'[11]
It is hoped that the £29million sports complex which is currently being built will be used as training camps for the 2012 London Olympics and the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. The complex will also be the host facility for the International Children's Games scheduled to take place in 2011.[12] [13]
[edit] Debates
The plans for the regeneration have generated a certain amount of controversy; local residents and businesses are worried about the proposed shopping facilities. It is feared they will destroy jobs and nearby businesses and town centres (e.g. Motherwell and Wishaw) will suffer. Nearby shopping centres such as the Brandon Shopping Centre in Motherwell, the Regent Shopping Centre in Hamilton and East Kilbride Shopping Centre have complained that new shopping facilities may take away their regular customers.[14]
[edit] Ravenscraig Today
The first major development (the new Motherwell College) is drawing close to completion. The students' residential buildings, the nursery and the teaching blocks are already finished and the external works are due to be completed on the 26th June. The college will then open on late July/early August 2009.
There has also been ongoing construction on houses and flats to the south of the development, and construction of the new regional sports facility should be completed by July 2010.
Phase two of the construction, which includes shopping facilities, is planned to start around late 2010—early 2011.
[edit] Transport
As part of the regeneration, the transport links to Ravenscraig will be greatly improved. There will be a new transport interchange within walking distance of the new town centre offering bus services to Glasgow and Lanark. There will be easy access to public transport throughout the site including dedicated business routes. There will also be a new train station built that will link to the broader public transport network with options to connect to the Motherwell and Carfin rail stations.
There will also be a new road network and so Ravenscraig will therefore be very easily accessible from both the M74 and M8 Motorways. Also, local politicians want the area well signposted due to the many benefits the town will bring to the wider area, stretching from as far as the borders of England.
[edit] Advantages
Some benefits of note that may well attract people from a wider area will include the following:
- The town being host to an established educational facility (i.e. Motherwell College).
- The town being five minutes from a large hospital (i.e. Wishaw General).
- The town being host to a Town Centre (that will contain a lot of shopping and leisure facilities).
- The town being host to a large regional sports facility, tipped as one of the largest in the UK.
- The town being near (and possibly in the future, host) an SPL club (i.e. Motherwell F.C).
[edit] Motherwell FC
The local Scottish Premier League football team, Motherwell Football Club is one of possible the purchasers of the site for a new stadium, leaving behind their home of 113 years, Fir Park. Mark McGhee, the former manager of the club, had said that he and the directors have held tentative discussions with North Lanarkshire Council about building the new stadium on the site[15] [16]
[edit] Location Grid
| North: Carfin | ||
| West: Motherwell | Ravenscraig | East: Wishaw |
| South: Netherton/Muirhouse |
[edit] External links
[edit] References
- ^ The Company and Its Allied Concerns - Colville's Magazine, 1920
- ^ Campbell, R. H. (1958). Iron and Steel. Chapter 5, In: Cunnison, J. and Gilfillan, J. B. S. (Editors) (1958). The Third Statistical Account of Scotland, Volume V, The City of Glasgow. Glasgow: William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd.
- ^ Ravenscraig Steel Works History 1954 - 1992
- ^ Stratton, Michael and Trinder, Barry (2000). Twentieth Century Industrial Archaelogy. London: E & FN Spon. ISBN 0-419-24680-0.
- ^ Still time for a new strategy. (closing of British Steel's Ravenscraig, Scotland steel plant)
- ^ Google Maps
- ^ Scottish Government - (Henry McLeish backs plans for Ravenscraig Regeneration)
- ^ [1]
- ^ Developing homes at Ravenscraig
- ^ New Year start for sports facility
- ^ - Ravenscraig - Natural Heritage
- ^ Scottish Government - (£29m for Ravenscraig sports complex)
- ^ International Children's Games 2011 in Lanarkshire
- ^ BBC News - Controversy over steelworks plan
- ^ Motherwell Times
- ^ The Manager Speaks
