With any project, communication and information are essential if all interested parties are to understand the very real concerns and the aspirations of each other. NPL have significant land interests across the country and are working hard to bring delivery to the government's policy of land regeneration. We are working on a number of projects and have strengthened our development team through investment in NPL Analytical. These offshoots enable us to better understand some of the inevitable issues and problems that can arise on complex sites and to provide realistic solutions to practical problems.

On the development front we are moving forward at Thornton, Lancashire with a very large investment in the former ICI site at Hillhouse. Our employment initiatives have been well received and we are following through with a path of a mixed development, building on the work that we have undertaken over the last few years.

In Cheshire we have a number of development programmes and strategies coming to fruition. We also have new developments in Wales and the North East.

The Phoenix programme which was the development of the former Linwood car plant in Scotland has been successfully completed and sold and our new Scottish venture at Ardeer in Ayrshire is moving ahead.

We have a number of new projects coming forward which are innovative and forward thinking in the challenge to invest and develop land regeneration programmes and we look forward to building on our success to date, to move from the past into the future.

Eric Taylor OBE
Chief Executive

12th November 2004

NPL Estates have this week unveiled their revised plans for the Thornton Gateway development at Burn Naze. The latest plans take on board comments received from local residents who attended the previous exhibition held in April this year.

At both exhibitions, there has been an amazing turnout from locals who are anxious to see the company’s redevelopment plans delivered.  Since the original forum, planners and designers at NPL have gone back to the drawing board and now incorporate no less than 18 new features that were suggested by the local community in their new proposals.

These include:

• Additional Lakes and water features
• A Community Centre
• New Sports Facilities
• Coastal Nature Trail
• Cycle & Bridle Paths
• Potential incorporation of the power station

NPL have been involved on the ICI site since the late 1990s and took overall control of the former industrial site in 2003. NPL’s subsidiary company Thornton Facilities Management (TFM) which runs the site and provides electricity, water and other services for over 550 people working on the Hillhouse site, has invested heavily in modernising the Park, and has welcomed new businesses as a direct result to what is the largest industrial site in Wyre.
 
NPL believe that the new plans provide an innovative and balanced mixed development.  The objective is to provide employment within a quality community environment which will revitalise one of the oldest neighbourhoods in Wyre.
 
‘By incorporating their ideas and suggestions into our new proposals we now hope that Wyre Borough Council will consider the views of the community and their involvement with our revised designs and agree to allow us to get the project underway sooner rather than later.’ said Simon Towers, Development Director for NPL.

The NPL exhibition was held last Wednesday at Thornton Cleveleys Football Club on Bourne Road, a purpose built sports and social club that was gifted to the community by NPL in 2002. 
 
Councillor Tony Condron the representative for Bourne ward and a member of the Wyre planning committee was an early visitor to the event. Mr. Condron was pleased with NPL’s new plans ‘ I am impressed how NPL have worked with the community and the council in preparing their submission and I hope that everyone can now work in a constructive way to overcome the neglect the ICI site has had over the years.’ He said.

Scott Carswell, site manager at TFM, agrees that the project needs to start as soon as possible. ‘As soon as we commence this development the whole local economy will see the benefits as most of the immediate work including construction and support services will be undertaken by local providers.  This is a huge project that can start to bring immediate and much needed investment into the area’ Scott added.

Mr & Mrs Barnes, two of the 200 residents who visited both exhibitions have lived in Thornton for 2 years. ‘The ICI site desperately needs improving.  At the moment it’s a complete eyesore and it’s affecting the value of houses in the area. Many in our community have already been put on the market,’ said Mrs. Barnes

Another recent resident is Mrs. Burton who said:

‘I can see the sense and benefits of a mixed housing and employment development where people can work and live in the same area, and the sooner the better as the situation is affecting the value of local houses’. 
 

NPL Estates have released a first draft plan for their proposed regeneration of the old ICI site at Burn Naze.

The outline shows a mixed development of housing, employment, commercial and industrial facilities with a large emphasis and allocation to green and recreational space.

The plans were unveiled at the public open day at Thornton Cleveleys Sports Centre on Wednesday 14th of April which was attended by over 150 local residents.

Isabel Barnes the Operations Director at NPL was delighted by the turnout and the comments left by the visitors. “We had a very busy day and received extremely positive views. NPL want to involve the whole community in the project and this has been a very productive two-way learning experience” said Isabel.

Local residents Keith & Christine Charnley were impressed by NPL’s work. “I was born and raised in Burn Naze and worked 25 years on the ICI site, said Keith. When the main body of industry and employment left the area the whole village of Burn Naze lost its soul. NPL’s development plans are exactly what the community needs”.

Keith’s wife Christine is also impressed by NPL’s approach. “I that its very commendable of NPL to share their ideas with the local residents. No one was sure what was intended and there have been conflicting stories; however I am very impressed with their proposals”.

"New plans released by NPL Estates could see part of the land developed with a mix of industrial and recreational facilities."

"The Glasgow based company, who owns the Hillhouse site, want to develop the area with a mix of housing, employment, commercial and industrial facilities and allocation to green spaces and recreational areas".

"The plans were produced so that NPL could share their vision with the local community and after feedback we will consider all dialogue with local residents to ensure that everyone is involved in the final proposal."

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NPL Estates has acquired analytical laboratories that specialise in the analysis of air, water and soil samples. This acquisition further strengthens the company's expertise in brownfield development, reinforcing our position as one of the leading, innovative developers of previously used land in the UK.

NPL Analytical laboratories, based at Hillhouse, Thornton, have the capability to undertake the above tests and many more. They are equipped with modern analytical instrumentation and have UKAS accreditation (the premier UK quality accreditation scheme for laboratories) for many of the tests that are undertaken.

We currently employ a number of well-proven and experienced chemists and given the significant response to the opening, plans are already in place to expand the business. The laboratory at Hillhouse will become our lead laboratory in the UK and in addition to expanding its current range of services it will become our centre for the analysis of contaminated land samples.

Mrs Joan Humble MP for Blackpool North together with Wyre Borough's Deputy Mayor and Deputy Mayoress officially opened NPL's laboratories, which will provide an essential service to the public and private sector for the future development of brownfield land throughout the whole of the UK.

Mrs Humble said: “I am pleased to see a new business being launched on the Hillhouse site and hope it is the first of many enterprises that NPL Estates will bring to the site. The development is very welcome and will bring high quality jobs to the area’.

April 2003 saw the handover of responsibility for the Hillhouse Business Park to NPL Estates through its specialised subsidiary Thornton Facilities Management (TFM).

A multi disciplinary team with a wealth of experience in dealing with the complex issues in controlling a multi million pound site budget, TFM will ensure a sustainable future for the site.

Hillhouse Business Park is uniquely administered with a close working relationship with the Stakeholders, large multinational companies who rely on TFM for a wide range of services. In essence TFM provides a stable and secure environment for business to flourish.

The Site facilities are comprehensive, including 24 hour security and emergency response. Hillhouse enjoys its own ambulance and fire service, electrical and water supply, effluent services and total site maintenance. TFM retains specialist staff dedicated to meeting the needs of the Stakeholders and works closely with local contractors to ensure an efficient and cost effective service, which is now attracting new Stakeholders to the Site.

TFM now manages all NPL landholdings across the country including land maintenance, security and agricultural holdings.

TFM recognises the importance of its role in the local community and through its parent company, NPL Estates, has developed close links with a number of community enterprises such as Thornton Football Club and Thornton Bowling Club.

Contact: Scott Carswell. Telephone 01253 864633

Members of Thornton Cleveleys Football Club are delighted with the continued support and sponsorship provided to the club by developers NPL Estates.

Over the past three years NPL Estates have contributed the land and playing fields, provided sponsorship towards the club's new facilities; helped towards the cost of remedial work on the football pitches and for the coming season have sponsored the Club's new strips.

"I would like to take this opportunity to thank NPL Estates for your sponsorship and continued support of Thornton Cleveleys Football Club.

Without the support of organisations such as yours, the Club would not be able to look to the future as well as have the facilities that it currently boasts."

Steve Abbott, Chairman Thornton Cleveleys Football Club

"Thornton Bowling Club wish to acknowledge their appreciation to NPL Estates for their contribution of the ground and new clubhouse. Over the past 2/3 years our members have been enjoying the new facilities and we hope that local residents will encourage NPL Estates' investment in the area."

Mike Smith, Thornton Bowling Club

"Following the extensive refurbishment, Victrex PLC has commissioned its recently acquired 4500 sq metre warehouse on Hillhouse Business Park. The warehouse which compliments Victrex's existing manufacturing and technology centre on the Park, is used for the storage of raw materials and finished products and is now the main despatch point for Victrex sales worldwide. Approximately 95% of Victrex's production at Hillhouse Business Park is exported and the company's success was recognised in the award of the prestigious Queens Award for Enterprise (International Trade) in 2002. The acquisition of the new warehouse has also enabled space to be set aside for potential future expansion of manufacturing activities on the site."

Dr Tim Walker, Production & Technical Director, Victrex plc

"NPL Estates will be working with local businesses and will shortly become a member of the Chamber of Commerce. NPL are therefore delighted to announce their collaboration with local firms Kays Commercial & Industrial Surveyors and David Walker Associates to help realise their ambition of revitalising the Hillhouse site."

Jim Mills, Air Monitors and Eric Taylor, NPL Estates.

Signing their first contract for ambient air quality monitoring services with NPL Analytical.