STANTON BREAKTHROUGH

A 70-hectare site at Stanton that has been derelict for years has been sold with plans to transform the land and create local jobs for local people. Erewash Borough Council has welcomed the news that land owner Saint-Gobain PAM UK Ltd has agreed the sale with Verdant Ltd – a new company formed by local businesses Ward Recycling and Trust Utilities. The land in question is the northern side of Low’s Lane at Stanton and the sale is seen as a major breakthrough for the Stanton Regeneration Site, which has long been identified by the council as one of the biggest redevelopment opportunities in the borough. This week, Council Leader, Councillor Carol Hart, said the sale was a major step forward and good news that things are now moving on with the landmark site:      

“This is very much a first step and we will work with Verdant as they prepare their proposals for the site. We are talking about two local businesses taking control of a site that has been derelict for so long and with the desire to create employment – jobs for local people. That has got to be good.”

 Her comments were backed by Councillor Michael Powell, the council’s Lead Member for Regeneration and Planning: “We are not talking about the whole of the Stanton site and there will be planning processes to go through - but this is a large-scale area and its development would help meet our ambitions for job creation. We have worked so hard over the years to put a masterplan together for Stanton and I am absolutely delighted that at last we have some positive news that things are moving on.”

 Ward Recycling and Trust Utilities are both Erewash-based companies and say they look forward to a new era working as Verdant Ltd to create further local employment opportunities. A statement from Verdant Regeneration Ltd said that the company is a joint venture by two local Ilkeston business owners. “The Grier and Ward families have invested private funds to acquire the site and are excited about the future for the old Stanton Ironworks – to be renamed as ‘New Stanton Park’,’ it said. David Ward, for Verdant Regeneration Ltd, added:

“We are honoured to be able to try and restore this local landmark to a modern and   environmentally sustainable site for the future. It has a wonderful past and we hope will now have a prosperous future which will bring back rail connectivity, employment and opportunity to local people which is desperately needed in these difficult times.”