UK Coal has got the go-ahead to redevelop the oldest mine site in Britain into a residential-led regeneration scheme.
UK Coal has won planning from Wakefield Council to develop 917 homes and a business park on the 300-acre former Prince of Wales Colliery site at Pontefract in West Yorkshire.
The scheme also includes retail outlets, restaurants and community facilities including a medical centre and nursery, as well as parkland.
UK Coal chief executive Jon Lloyd said: ’Wakefield’s decision is a major milestone in the regeneration of an area. The close working relationship and understandings developed with all the interested parties over recent years augurs well for the future.
'We look forward to turning the blueprint of a new future into a reality.’
The plans will now be referred for government endorsement and remediation works are underway on site. If the scheme is backed by the government, development could start by the end of this year.
UK Coal has also submitted a planning application for another major site near Sheffield.
It wants to build around 4,000 homes on the 700-acre former Orgreave-Waverley surface mine site, where it is already developing an advanced manufacturing park.