Harworth aims to create ‘vibrant centre for people’ at Yorkshire’s largest brownfield redevelopment

The plans include retail, a gym, offices, restaurants, cafes, a supermarket, a medical centre, community space, a bus hub and residential development. Harworth said the plans will create “a vibrant centre for local people”.

The new development will be called Olive Lane and has been designed by Harworth in close collaboration with Coda Architecture, PWP Landscape Design and BE Design.

It will be developed on 10 acres of land that sits between the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) and the site’s existing residential area.

Harworth said the centre will support Waverley’s rising resident population, which currently numbers over 2,500 people. It will also be used by the 2,000 workers at the AMP where occupiers include Rolls-Royce, McLaren Automotive and the University of Sheffield’s Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre.

They have recently been joined by the UK Atomic Energy Authority, following the practical completion of its new 22,300 sq ft nuclear fusion research facility in October.

Harworth is now sharing its plans with residents and workers ahead of the submission of a planning application in 2021. It is also actively seeking expressions of interest from potential occupiers to add to the growing list of interested parties wanting to take space at the proposed development.

Waverley is Yorkshire’s largest brownfield redevelopment, with outline planning consent in place for 3,890 homes and two million sq ft of commercial space. To date, over 1,000 homes have been built by Barratt Homes, Harron, Taylor Wimpey, Avant and Skyhouse, alongside 1.5 million sq ft of commercial space predominantly for advanced manufacturing.

Other local facilities have also been developed on-site, including a new primary school that opened in September.

Waverley sits at the heart of the region’s Advanced Manufacturing Innovation District (AMID). This district spans over 2,000 acres and Harworth said it is a major contributor to the rebalancing of the UK through its businesses developing research led, technology-based solutions in sectors as varied as aerospace, defence, transportation, nuclear, low carbon energy and healthcare technologies.

Duncan Armstrong-Payne, associate director for major projects at Harworth, said: “The importance of strong communities and the need for liveable, walkable neighbourhoods is central to our vision at Waverley, which has been reinforced by the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Our proposal for Olive Lane brings together a high-density mix of uses with an emphasis on high-quality design and finish, providing the facilities that local residents and workers at the AMP rightfully expect.

“Our continued investment at Waverley also supports the Government’s rebalancing programme, along with its desire to ‘Build Back Better’. I look forward to sharing plans with those living or working at Waverley before submitting our planning application in the new year.”

Richard Petyt, partner at Knight Frank, added: “This is a really exciting project to be involved with and we are delighted to be working alongside Harworth Group.

“The Olive Lane development has great potential to create a high quality retail and leisure environment and to provide the much-needed facilities to ensure the area works as a viable, vibrant and dynamic community.

“These facilities will further attract new residents and businesses to live and work at the development and also encourage sustainable patterns of shopping and service within the heart of a genuinely sustainable community.”