St Modwen Completes Purchase of Coed Darcy Development
St. Modwen, the UK’s leading specialist regeneration company, has completed the purchase of the 1000 acre (400 hectare) former oil refinery site at Coed Darcy near Neath.
St. Modwen completed a rigorous selection and scrutiny process to the complete satisfaction of the Partners, who for several years have been working to ensure that the former Llandarcy Oil Refinery site is transformed into a world class urban village.
Led by the former oil refinery owners, BP and working closely in Partnership with The Welsh Assembly Government; Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council and the Prince’s Foundation for the Built Environment, the site has now been handed over to St. Modwen which will take over responsibility for delivering the Urban Village over the next twenty years.
Work is already well advanced on preparing the ground for the building of the first houses on Area One this year. That development of some 200 houses based on the vision of the Prince’s Foundation for a sustainable urban village community will be the fore-runner and blue print of some 4000 homes which will be built on the site over the coming years.
Rupert Joseland, the South West Regional Development Director for St. Modwen said he was acutely aware of the responsibility which the completion of negotiations with the Partners placed on the company. “St. Modwen has an excellent track record in re developing brownfield sites,” he said “and I am certain we can maintain and develop that reputation as we make safe and transform this superb site between the M4 and Swansea Bay.”
Welsh Assembly Government Deputy Minister for Regeneration, Leighton Andrews said: “Coed Darcy will be an urban village where people take precedence over cars; where buildings are attractively designed and built with quality materials and craftsmanship. St. Modwen will develop Coed Darcy as a sustainable community contributing to the overall vitality of Neath Port Talbot.”
Derek Vaughan, Leader of Neath Port Talbot Council said that ‘handing over the keys’ to St Modwen was a red letter day for the area. “We have all been excited by the potential of this large area of land and have worked hard to ensure that the opportunity to create something really special here is not squandered. No effort has been spared to ensure that Coed Darcy evolves into something of which the whole of Wales can be proud. “
Hank Dittmar, Chief Executive of The Prince’s Foundation for the Built Environment said: “The Prince’s Foundation looks forward to working with St Modwen to ensure that, as Coed Darcy is built, it really does become a new benchmark for outstanding urban design for the 21st Century. “
St. Modwen will use its expertise, gained through developing brownfield sites throughout the UK to drive the project forward. The Master Plan seeks to set out a well crafted network of connected streets based on the Prince’s Foundation approach to traditional urbanism. The plan lays down a radical approach to the entire development with quality of design, materials and building techniques being given top priority.
The development will offer a range of residential tenures and some units are planned to incorporate space and facilities for workshops or small businesses. Community shopping, healthcare and schools will be catered for and the aim will be to create a true mixed use community where the focus is on people rather than cars whilst at the same time incorporating the practical needs of transport. There will be facilities there for residents to live, play, work and go to school in a community which echoes the human contact found in traditional communities.
For further information, please contact:
Elfyn Thomas / Paul Shackson
Good Relations
T 029 2034 4888
