Hanson's Lane End Brickworks sign at time of closure"

Lane End Brickworks, Buckley

February 2003

It was announced in February 2003 that the brickworks were to close in April 2003 with a loss of 43 jobs. Hanson Brick reported a decrease in business and rising production costs.

In mid 2004, Redrow employed the environmental division of White Young Green (WYG), a company based in Leeds, to prepare the site for development. This involved clearance, investigating contamination levels, a risk assessment and investigation of the natural and built environment implications. Earthworks and ground improvements are due in summer 2005.

Redrow intend to build 300 two-, three- and four-bedroomed houses and apartments. It is planned that fifty acres will be public open space and a nature reserve will be created and managed.

In mid 2004 there were concerns that the road network will be overloaded and the environmental impact is not clear. The site is a stronghold for the great crested newt.

The Buckley Society, among others, were concerned that there would be no building left in Buckley to commemorate the once mighty pottery and brick industry. The factory buildings were modern and the two chimneys were unsafe.

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Flintshire County Council deferred the application from Redrow after a recommendation from the chief planning services officer, Huw Evans, that it be turned down. Part of the proposal would disturb the habitat of the newts and the site was adjacent to two protected sites of nature conservation including a Special Area of Conservation (SAC). Although the application included the creation of open spaces, a woodland wildlife habitat, landscaping and new and improved access roads to the site, the county had strong objections despite discussions between Redrow, the council's ecologist and the Countryside Council for Wales, it was still felt that the plans would have an adverse impact on the SAC. In the plans, the huge water-filled pit would be removed and replaced by a series of ponds.

The Buckley Town Council feared that the development would impose a strain on the road network as well as the schools and health facilities.

In January 2006, Flintshire County Council stated that the development would be given planning consent subject to 30% of the housing being affordable homes. The company would also need to draw up plans to ensure the development had the minimum impact on nearby roads (Drury Lane, Church Road and Chester Road); also the newts and other wildlife would have to be protected and the pool replaced with smaller ponds with a wildlife warden employed to manage the wildlife and habitat.

Author: Anon

Hanson's Lane End Brickworks sign at time of closure"

Lane End Brickworks, Buckley

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