Two shortlisted for Derwent Forest redevelopment

TWO POTENTIAL developers have been asked to firm up proposals for redeveloping a former Royal Navy arms base at Broughton Moor in Cumbria.

Derwent Forest Developments and ESH Developments have both been asked to continue fleshing out their plans for the huge 425-hectare site by joint owners Allerdale Borough Council and Cumbria County Council, who acquired the land in 2008.

The former Royal Naval Armaments Depot at Broughton Moor received 12 initial enquiries or proposals, including a joint bid from Kingmoor Park and Kier, which was recently ruled out by an assessment team consisting of members of both councils, the North West Regional development agency and property consultancy DTZ.

However, the partners have said that no “outright winner” emerged from the other bidders and has asked them to continue working on their proposals, although it wants to choose a scheme by February 28 to allow heads of terms to be signed in order for the site to be eventually transferred by the end of August.

This will allow developers to open part of the site – one of the largest brownfield sites to come on the market in the North West – to reopen to the general public for the first time in 50 years.

The County Council said that neither of the two shortlisted firms were planning to carry out any open cast mining on the site, which had been a cause for concern among local people.

Cllr Tony Markley, Cumbria County Council’s cabinet member for economic development, said: “We’re giving both potential developers the chance to
convince us over the next two months that their plans are financially robust and are the right ones for the people of Cumbria.

“To have two companies keen to develop Derwent Forest in the current financial climate is great news for local people, for whom the site has been a huge no-go area for more than 50 years.”

Cllr Tim Heslop, leader of Allerdale Borough Council, said: “Both Derwent Forest
Developments and ESH Developments have strong proposals which aim to unlock the potential of this unique site.”