Ravenscraig
Encyclopedia
Ravenscraig is an area of land located in North Lanarkshire
, Scotland
. Ravenscraig was previously inhabited by steel
industry workers, as it was formerly the site of Ravenscraig steelworks
. Once the largest hot strip steel mill in Western Europe, the steelworks 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.
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 - respectively. This allows easy access for commuters and visitors to the area.
A rail line travels directly through the site and another travels around the opposite end of the site.
Ravenscraig Steel Works, took its name, as well as the former settlement of the same title, from the nearby secluded cliff face called Ravenscraig. This translates as Raven's Cliff or Cliff of the Ravens. It is situated in the valley of the North Calder Water, north of the steelworks site. This is first shown on the 1st Edition Ordnance Survey Map of 1859.
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 1992 signalled the end of large scale steel making in Scotland, and was the cause of a loss of 770 jobs, with another 10,000 job losses directly and indirectly linked to the closure.
In its current state, Ravenscraig is one of the largest derelict
sites in Europe
measuring over 1125 acres (4.6 km²) in size, an area equivalent to 700 football pitches or twice the size of Monaco
. The main spine of the new road network has been constructed and there are facilities onsite to help decontaminate the River Calder which suffered during the years Ravenscraig was in operation. There are also plantations designed to encourage diversity in the site wildlife.
, Scottish Enterprise
and Corus. The project will be one of the largest regenerations in Europe
, with 400 acres (1.6 km²) being developed.
Ravenscraig will be home to several new facilities:
Part of the development will be to create new habitats for the wildlife already living in the area, such as deer
, fox
es, hare
s, otter
s, badger
s, 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 Ravenscraig Ltd.’s aims and objectives by all developers and contractors.'
It is hoped that the new £29million sports complex will be used as training camps for the 2012 London Olympics and the 2014 Commonwealth Games
in Glasgow
. The complex will also be the host facility for the International Children's Games
scheduled to take place in 2011.
in Motherwell, the Regent Shopping Centre
in Hamilton
and East Kilbride Shopping Centre
have complained that new shopping facilities may take away their regular customers.
) has been completed, and has been formally opened. The building will attract in excess of 20,000 students. The new regional sports facility
has also been completed and opened on 4 October 2010.
The final part of phase one, which is construction of houses to the north of the new town, is well underway. The housing development of Phoenix Park will eventually hold 850 new homes, some of which have been completed.
Also, another important step towards full completion of the project has been met, with funding being approved for the second phase. Phase two of the construction, which includes shopping facilities, is planned to start around mid-2012.
A new dual carriageway that would link the new town with the M8 and M74 motorways, has been given provisional approval.
and Lanark
. There will be easy access to public transport throughout the site including dedicated business routes. There will also be a new railway station built that will link to the broader public transport network with options to connect to the Motherwell
and Carfin
rail stations.
There will also be a new road network, as well as a new dual carriageway, which will connect to the M8 and M74, Scotland's busiest motorway's, potentially leading to reduced traffic flow and easier access to Ravenscraig and neighbouring towns such as Motherwell and Wishaw. Also, local politicians want the area well signposted due to the many benefits the town will bring to the wider area, stretching from Glasgow
to Edinburgh
to as far as the northern parts of England
.
football team, Motherwell Football Club is one of possible the purchasers of the site for a new stadium, leaving behind their home of 113 years, Fir Park
. Mark McGhee, then-manager of the club, had said that he and the directors have held tentative discussions with North Lanarkshire Council about building the new stadium on the site. Despite the fact there have been stronger indications that the move may be in progress of becoming a reality, a move to Ravenscraig in the short-term would be impossible.
North Lanarkshire
North Lanarkshire is one of 32 council areas in Scotland. It borders onto the northeast of the City of Glasgow and contains much of Glasgow's suburbs and commuter towns and villages. It also borders Stirling, Falkirk, East Dunbartonshire, West Lothian and South Lanarkshire...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. Ravenscraig was previously inhabited by steel
Steel
Steel is an alloy that consists mostly of iron and has a carbon content between 0.2% and 2.1% by weight, depending on the grade. Carbon is the most common alloying material for iron, but various other alloying elements are used, such as manganese, chromium, vanadium, and tungsten...
industry workers, as it was formerly the site of Ravenscraig steelworks
Ravenscraig steelworks
The Ravenscraig steelworks, operated by Colvilles and latterly by British Steel, consisted of an integrated iron and steel works and a hot strip steel mill. They were located in Motherwell, North Lanarkshire, Scotland....
. Once the largest hot strip steel mill in Western Europe, the steelworks closed in 1992, and is now almost totally demolished.
Ravenscraig is now in the process of a major redevelopment by Wilson Bowden Developments Ltd
Wilson Bowden
Wilson Bowden plc was a British housebuilding and general construction company headquartered in Coalville in central England.-History:Wilson Bowden was the holding company for David Wilson Homes and its commercial property subsidiary, Wilson Bowden Properties, the name being adopted at the time of...
, Scottish Enterprise
Scottish Enterprise
Scottish Enterprise is a sponsored non-departmental public body of the Scottish Government which encourages economic development, enterprise, innovation and investment in business...
and Corus.
Location
Ravenscraig is one of the most accessible places in Scotland, with over two-thirds of Scotland’s population within 90 minutes drive time.Located in North Lanarkshire
North Lanarkshire
North Lanarkshire is one of 32 council areas in Scotland. It borders onto the northeast of the City of Glasgow and contains much of Glasgow's suburbs and commuter towns and villages. It also borders Stirling, Falkirk, East Dunbartonshire, West Lothian and South Lanarkshire...
, Ravenscraig lies between the towns of Wishaw
Wishaw
Wishaw is a large town and former burgh in North Lanarkshire, Scotland. It is on the edge of the Clyde Valley, 15 miles south-east of Glasgow....
and Motherwell, who together house a population of over 60,000.
Ravenscraig lies only a few minutes drive from both the M74
M74 motorway
The A74 and M74 motorways form a major motorway in Scotland. Following an extension opened on 28 June 2011, it connects the M8 motorway west of Glasgow to the English border at Gretna, creating an alternative route for traffic moving from the south to the west of the city...
and the M8 motorways, which lead to Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
and Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
- Scotland's two largest cities - respectively. This allows easy access for commuters and visitors to the area.
A rail line travels directly through the site and another travels around the opposite end of the site.
History
A major expansion of Colvilles
David Colville & Sons
David Colville & Sons was a Scottish iron and steel company. It was founded in 1871, and in 1967 it was nationalised as part of British Steel. The company's first plant was the Dalzell Steel and Iron Works in Motherwell, which was opened in 1872, and by World War I this plant was the largest...
, the largest steel manufacturer in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
before World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, 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 1992 signalled the end of large scale steel making in Scotland, and was the cause of a loss of 770 jobs, with another 10,000 job losses directly and indirectly linked to the closure.
Current state
Derelict
Derelict or dereliction commonly refers to:* Abandonment of property, then referred to as a 'derelict'* Derelict , property which has been abandoned and deserted at sea by those who were in charge without any hope of recovering it...
sites in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
measuring over 1125 acres (4.6 km²) in size, an area equivalent to 700 football pitches or twice the size of Monaco
Monaco
Monaco , officially the Principality of Monaco , is a sovereign city state on the French Riviera. It is bordered on three sides by its neighbour, France, and its centre is about from Italy. Its area is with a population of 35,986 as of 2011 and is the most densely populated country in the...
. The main spine of the new road network has been constructed and there are facilities onsite to help decontaminate the River Calder which suffered during the years Ravenscraig was in operation. There are also plantations designed to encourage diversity in the site wildlife.
Future plans
After many years of planning, Ravenscraig will be 'regenerated' and rebuilt by three equal shareholders: Wilson Bowden Developments LtdWilson Bowden
Wilson Bowden plc was a British housebuilding and general construction company headquartered in Coalville in central England.-History:Wilson Bowden was the holding company for David Wilson Homes and its commercial property subsidiary, Wilson Bowden Properties, the name being adopted at the time of...
, Scottish Enterprise
Scottish Enterprise
Scottish Enterprise is a sponsored non-departmental public body of the Scottish Government which encourages economic development, enterprise, innovation and investment in business...
and Corus. The project will be one of the largest regenerations in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, with 400 acres (1.6 km²) being developed.
Ravenscraig will be home to several new facilities:
| New Facilities |
|---|
| 3,500 new homes |
| A new town centre with 84,000 m² of retail and leisure space |
| Up to 216,000 m² of business and industrial space |
| Major parkland areas |
| A new transport network |
| New sports facility Ravenscraig Regional Sports Facility The Ravenscraig Regional Sports Facility is a public leisure centre that is located in the Ravenscraig area of Motherwell, North Lanarkshire, Scotland.-History:... |
| A new college campus Motherwell College Motherwell College is a further education college located in the Ravenscraig area of Motherwell, North Lanarkshire, Scotland. The college moved into a new campus in 2009, which is located 1 km from the old site.... |
| Two new schools |
| A hotel |
Part of the development will be to create new habitats for the wildlife already living in the area, such as deer
Deer
Deer are the ruminant mammals forming the family Cervidae. Species in the Cervidae family include white-tailed deer, elk, moose, red deer, reindeer, fallow deer, roe deer and chital. Male deer of all species and female reindeer grow and shed new antlers each year...
, fox
Fox
Fox is a common name for many species of omnivorous mammals belonging to the Canidae family. Foxes are small to medium-sized canids , characterized by possessing a long narrow snout, and a bushy tail .Members of about 37 species are referred to as foxes, of which only 12 species actually belong to...
es, hare
Hare
Hares and jackrabbits are leporids belonging to the genus Lepus. Hares less than one year old are called leverets. Four species commonly known as types of hare are classified outside of Lepus: the hispid hare , and three species known as red rock hares .Hares are very fast-moving...
s, otter
Otter
The Otters are twelve species of semi-aquatic mammals which feed on fish and shellfish, and also other invertebrates, amphibians, birds and small mammals....
s, badger
Badger
Badgers are short-legged omnivores in the weasel family, Mustelidae. There are nine species of badger, in three subfamilies : Melinae , Mellivorinae , and Taxideinae...
s, watervoles, butterflies and birds such as the wader
Wader
Waders, called shorebirds in North America , are members of the order Charadriiformes, excluding the more marine web-footed seabird groups. The latter are the skuas , gulls , terns , skimmers , and auks...
, song thrush
Song Thrush
The Song Thrush is a thrush that breeds across much of Eurasia. It is also known in English dialects as throstle or mavis. It has brown upperparts and black-spotted cream or buff underparts and has three recognised subspecies...
and the little ringed plover
Little Ringed Plover
The Little Ringed Plover is a small plover. Adults have a grey-brown back and wings, a white belly, and a white breast with one black neckband. They have a brown cap, a white forehead, a black mask around the eyes with white above and a short dark bill...
, with an Ecological Clerk of Works appointed to 'ensure compliance with Ravenscraig Ltd.’s aims and objectives by all developers and contractors.'
It is hoped that the new £29million sports complex will be used as training camps for the 2012 London Olympics and the 2014 Commonwealth Games
2014 Commonwealth Games
The 20th Commonwealth Games in 2014 will be held in Glasgow, the largest city in Scotland. The winning city was announced by the Commonwealth Games Federation on 9 November 2007 in Colombo, Sri Lanka. The Games will run over 11 days of competition from 24 July to 3 August 2014...
in Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
. The complex will also be the host facility for the International Children's Games
International Children's Games
The International Children's Games is an International Olympic Committee-sanctioned event held every year where children from cities around the world and between the ages of 12 and 15 participate in a variety of sports.-History:...
scheduled to take place in 2011.
Debates
The plans for the regeneration have generated a certain amount of controversy; local residents and businesses are worried about the proposed shopping facilities. It is feared they will destroy jobs and nearby businesses and town centres (e.g. Motherwell and Wishaw) will suffer. Nearby shopping centres such as the Brandon Shopping CentreBrandon Shopping Centre
Brandon Shopping Centre is an outdoor shopping centre located in the centre of Motherwell, North Lanarkshire, Scotland. It is owned by CALA Properties, who have been owners of the site since February 2007.- Location and transport links :...
in Motherwell, the Regent Shopping Centre
Regent Shopping Centre
The Regent Shopping Centre is an indoor shopping mall located in the centre of Hamilton, South Lanarkshire, Scotland. The centre is not to be confused with The Regent Centre, a shopping centre in Kirkintilloch.- History :...
in Hamilton
Hamilton, South Lanarkshire
Hamilton is a town in South Lanarkshire, in the west-central Lowlands of Scotland. It serves as the main administrative centre of the South Lanarkshire council area. It is the fifth-biggest town in Scotland after Paisley, East Kilbride, Livingston and Cumbernauld...
and East Kilbride Shopping Centre
East Kilbride Shopping Centre
East Kilbride Shopping Centre is Scotland's largest undercover shopping centre at 106,030 sq m and is situated in East Kilbride, South Lanarkshire, Greater Glasgow.The centre is made up of 6 different malls...
have complained that new shopping facilities may take away their regular customers.
Ravenscraig Today
The first major development (the new Motherwell CollegeMotherwell College
Motherwell College is a further education college located in the Ravenscraig area of Motherwell, North Lanarkshire, Scotland. The college moved into a new campus in 2009, which is located 1 km from the old site....
) has been completed, and has been formally opened. The building will attract in excess of 20,000 students. The new regional sports facility
Ravenscraig Regional Sports Facility
The Ravenscraig Regional Sports Facility is a public leisure centre that is located in the Ravenscraig area of Motherwell, North Lanarkshire, Scotland.-History:...
has also been completed and opened on 4 October 2010.
The final part of phase one, which is construction of houses to the north of the new town, is well underway. The housing development of Phoenix Park will eventually hold 850 new homes, some of which have been completed.
Also, another important step towards full completion of the project has been met, with funding being approved for the second phase. Phase two of the construction, which includes shopping facilities, is planned to start around mid-2012.
A new dual carriageway that would link the new town with the M8 and M74 motorways, has been given provisional approval.
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 GlasgowGlasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
and Lanark
Lanark
Lanark is a small town in the central belt of Scotland. Its population of 8,253 makes it the 100th largest settlement in Scotland. The name is believed to come from the Cumbric Lanerc meaning "clear space, glade"....
. There will be easy access to public transport throughout the site including dedicated business routes. There will also be a new railway station built that will link to the broader public transport network with options to connect to the Motherwell
Motherwell
Motherwell is a town and former burgh in North Lanarkshire, Scotland, south east of Glasgow. The name "Moderwelt" appears on a map of Lanarkshire made by Timothy Pont some time between 1583 and 1611 and printed in the Netherlands in around 1652, although the settlement was probably little more...
and Carfin
Carfin
Carfin is a small village to the north-east of Motherwell, Scotland on the road to Newarthill.-Local facilities:The closest secondary school is Taylor High School in nearby New Stevenston...
rail stations.
There will also be a new road network, as well as a new dual carriageway, which will connect to the M8 and M74, Scotland's busiest motorway's, potentially leading to reduced traffic flow and easier access to Ravenscraig and neighbouring towns such as Motherwell and Wishaw. Also, local politicians want the area well signposted due to the many benefits the town will bring to the wider area, stretching from Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
to Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
to as far as the northern parts of England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
Advantages
Some benefits of note that may well attract people from a wider area will include the following:- The town being host to an established educational facility (i.e. Motherwell College).
- The town being five minutes from a large hospital (i.e. Wishaw GeneralWishaw General HospitalWishaw General Hospital is a district general hospital in the Craigneuk area of Wishaw, North Lanarkshire.-The Hospital:Wishaw General Hospital opened on 29 May 2001. It is a 633-bedded hospital, with the second-largest maternity unit in Scotland, delivering 5500 babies each year...
). - The town being host to a Town Centre (that will contain a lot of shopping and leisure facilities).
- The town being host to a large regional sports facilityRavenscraig Regional Sports FacilityThe Ravenscraig Regional Sports Facility is a public leisure centre that is located in the Ravenscraig area of Motherwell, North Lanarkshire, Scotland.-History:...
, tipped as one of the largest in the UK. - The town being near (and possibly in the future, host) an SPL club (i.e. Motherwell F.C).
Motherwell FC
The local Scottish Premier LeagueScottish Premier League
The Scottish Premier League , also known as the SPL , is a professional league competition for association football clubs in Scotland...
football team, Motherwell Football Club is one of possible the purchasers of the site for a new stadium, leaving behind their home of 113 years, Fir Park
Fir Park
Fir Park Stadium is a football stadium situated in Motherwell, North Lanarkshire, Scotland. The stadium plays host to the home matches of Scottish Premier League club Motherwell.- History :...
. Mark McGhee, then-manager of the club, had said that he and the directors have held tentative discussions with North Lanarkshire Council about building the new stadium on the site. Despite the fact there have been stronger indications that the move may be in progress of becoming a reality, a move to Ravenscraig in the short-term would be impossible.
Location Grid
External links
- Google Maps
- North Lanarkshire Council
- Ravenscraig Website
- National Library of Scotland: Scottish Screen Archive (Film clip from “The Big Mill”, 1963, about Ravenscraig and Gartcosh steelworks)