Landmark M6 gas holders to be flattened
Work to demolish two landmark gas holders along the M6 will begin in the next few days.
The project will kick-start the redevelopment of a site in the Black Country Enterprise Zone
Walsall Council gave approval for the removal of the two James Bridge gas holders last September and work at the 20-acre site in Darlaston Road is due to start within the next week.
Tom Westley, from the Black Country Local Enterprise Partnership Board, said: "The removal of these gas holders is a huge step in the regeneration of the area. This is the first step towards the redevelopment of the site to bring more jobs to the Black Country.
"The Black Country Enterprise Zone is already creating hundreds of new jobs at i54 in Wolverhampton and we believe that this site can become a manufacturing hub creating more products that are made in the Black Country and sold around the world."
Walsall's regeneration chief, Councillor Mohammad Nazir added: "I'm delighted that National Grid , with all their expertise, will soon start demolishing the gas holders. The site has huge potential for investment and development, creating hundreds of jobs for local people.
"The council continues to work in partnership with National Grid and other landowners within the enterprise zone to enable development in this locality. This is being supported by delivery of the £26 million Darlaston highways scheme and the future £64.5m M6 Junction 10 improvements."
In the last 10 years, the way gas is stored has changed and a lot of the gas distribution network is now underground. As a result of this investment, the James Bridge gas holders have been decommissioned and are no longer connected to the gas network.
Birmingham-based Coleman & Company are the appointed demolition contractor on the project.
Demolition of the holders is due to be completed early 2016, after which the site will be available for redevelopment as part of the Black Country Enterprise Zone.
The aim of the zone is to create private sector-led, economic growth to regenerate the Darlaston area.
It is anticipated that the redevelopment of the enterprise zones sites in Darlaston could ultimately lead to the creation of approximately 2,000 jobs.
New figures from the Office of National Statistics confirm that the Black Country was leading the table for growth in the Midlands – revealing the economy grew by 4.5 per cent in 2013, well above the national average of 3.3 per cent.
