Everything about Ravenscraig totally explained
Ravenscraig is an area of land located in
North Lanarkshire. It was formerly the site of
Ravenscraig steelworks, once the largest hot strip steel mill in Western Europe. Ravenscraig was previously inhabited by workers for the
steel industry, which 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.
Location
Ravenscraig is located in one of the most accessible parts of 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.
History
A major expansion of Colvilles, the largest steel manufacturer in the
United Kingdom before
World War II, was approved in July 1954 by the Iron and Steel Board.
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.
The closure of Ravenscraig in 1993 signalled the end of large scale steel making in Scotland; and was the cause of a loss of 770 jobs, and another 10,000 job losses directly and indirectly linked.
Current State
In its current state, Ravenscraig is one of the largest
derelict sites in
Europe measuring over 1125 acres in size, an area equivalent to 700 football pitches or twice the size of Monaco.
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 and will be one of the largest regenerations in
Europe, with 400 acres being developed.
Ravenscraig will be home to several new facilities:
| New Facilities |
| 3,500 new homes |
| A new town centre with 84,000 sq m of retail and leisure space |
| Up to 216,000 sq m of business and industrial space |
| Major parkland areas |
| A new transport network |
| New sports facility |
| A new college campus |
| Two New schools. |
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 Ravesncraig Ltd’s aims and objectives by all developers and contractors.
'.
It is hoped that the
£29million redevelopment of the sports complex will be used as training camps for the
2012 London Olympics and the
2014 Commonwealth Games in
Glasgow.
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. These will link to the broader public transport network with options to connect to the
Motherwell and
Carfin rail stations.
When the rail links are complete, Ravenscraig will be connected on the
General Terminus and Glasgow Harbour Railway which will greatly help commuters into areas of
Glasgow and also
Kilmarnock,
Ayr and even further afield.
Motherwell FC Rumours
It has widely been rumoured that the local
Scottish Premier League football team,
Motherwell Football Club is preparing for the purchase and construction of a new stadium in Ravenscraig, leaving behind their home of 113 years,
Fir Park. This rumour has since been quashed, with Motherwell Chairman, John Boyle stating
"No decisions have been taken and we're simply exploring realistic options at this stage."
Controversy
The plans for the regeneration have generated a certain amount of controversy, mostly from local residents and businesses centered on the new Shopping facilities. It is feared it'll destroy jobs and nearby businesses will suffer.
Location Grid
Further Information
Get more info on 'Ravenscraig'.
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