Derwent Forest - the next chapter
In January 2011, two potential developers selected to firm up
their plans to redevelop the site of Derwent Forest at Broughton
Moor, the former Royal Naval Armaments Depot in West Cumbria.
Allerdale Borough Council and Cumbria County Council, who
acquired the 425-hectare site in 2008, decided to continue working
with both Derwent Forest Developments and ESH Developments for a
limited time period, as both proposed developments have their
strengths and there is no clear outright winner in the selection
process at this stage.
The decision to shortlist two developers would allow even more
details of the proposed schemes to be sought from the two
developers, with both options being further assessed.
Neither of the two successful shortlisted companies were
proposing to carry out any open cast mining as part of their
developments - which was an issue of concern for local people when
public meetings were held about the proposed developments last
year. The benefits to the local community have been a key
consideration throughout the process when determining the preferred
development partner.
Both Allerdale Borough Council and Cumbria County Council are
still on track with their plans to dispose of the site by 31 August
2011 so that the new developer can open up public access to the
largest brownfield site in the North West for more than 50
years.
Public meetings were held in January for those living around the
Derwent Forest site to give an opportunity for people to learn more
about this latest decision and how the process would go forward
from there.
The meetings were held on 12 January in Seaton Junior
School; 13 January in Little Broughton Village Hall; and
17 January in Broughton Moor School.