Upperthorpe Road
Killamarsh
Unlocking a former colliery site for residential development, overcoming
legacy mining risks, planning objections and sustainability constraints.
What we did
Geo-environmental Engineering
Provided early feasibility advice on mining legacy risks at the former Westthorpe Colliery site, including areas of unrecorded shallow workings and mine shafts. We delivered a Phase 1 Desk Study, Coal Mining Risk Assessment and multiple ground investigations. Our risk-led input supported planning approval, helped overcome objections and enabled the site’s sale to a housebuilder.
Civil Engineering
Prepared a Flood Risk Assessment and Drainage Strategy to support an outline application for up to 397 dwellings. Provided support during a planning appeal concerning detention basins in green belt land, resulting in the appeal being upheld and planning permission granted.
Delivering Sustainability
Comprehensive contamination and mining risk assessments to enable on-site soil reuse, minimise landfill use, and support brownfield redevelopment for housing, reducing pressure on greenfield land.
Adding Value
Expert planning appeal support helped overturn the refusal. Assessments identified abnormal ground risks, informing an approved remediation strategy, giving housebuilder confidence in the site’s technical and economic viability.
Sensitively designed detention basins follow the natural landform, avoiding hard structures and preserving green belt character – key to the successful appeal.
“Killamarsh was particularly challenging in terms of its ground conditions due to its previous use. Rodgers Leask helped us develop a solution to enable the site to be brought forwards, navigating a complex environment to secure planning permission”.
