Heysham land sale is Gateway to economic growth says council

Lancaster City Council hopes the large areas of vacant land will be regenerated by businesses to capitalise on demand created by the new Bay Gateway road.

The council wants to see the Heysham Gateway become a major area for jobs in the region and help Heysham Port boost its trade with the Irish Republic, Northern Ireland and the Isle of Man.

Priority on the 47.5 acres of council-owned land will be given to job creation, energy generation, environmental technology and port-related uses. Plots of land will be sold on a long leasehold basis so the council can retain some control over any development.

The decision to dispose of the land was made on Tuesday by Lancaster City Council cabinet.

It comes as various energy projects are either under way or being mooted in the area including cables and substations for offshore wind farms and a proposed tunnel head at Middleton for a new National Grid under-Bay connection from Moorside in Cumbria.

Heysham Gateway history:

1939 - Heysham Aviation Works founded

1939-45 - Produced wartime aviation fuel

1948-1970s - Produced petroleum (Shell) and ammonium nitrate fertilisers (ICI)

1970s and 80s - Heysham 1 and 2 power stations built

Early 1970s - Petroleum production ceases

Early 1980s - Fertiliser production ceases

Mid-80s - City council buys around 80 hectares of site

2001 - Heysham Port acquired by Mersey Docks and Harbour Company

2005 - Lancashire County Council buys Lancashire West Business Park (formerly ICI land east of Middleton Road) for waste transfer station.

2009 - Lancashire Wildlife Trust take on management of most of the site