New proposals for smelter site

A screening opinion, the precursor to a possible planning application, for the former Alcan smelter site at Lynemouth has been submitted to Northumberland County Council.
Aerial view of the Lynemouth smelter site showing the demolition of the first of four potroom buildings.Aerial view of the Lynemouth smelter site showing the demolition of the first of four potroom buildings.
Aerial view of the Lynemouth smelter site showing the demolition of the first of four potroom buildings.

The application, submitted on behalf of Harworth Estates, one of the largest land and property regeneration companies in the UK, relates to an outline bid for the redevelopment of the site for employment uses, totalling 121,000 sq m of space and dubbed Lynefield Park. It refers to employment uses B1, B2 and B8 which incorporates business use, eg, offices; general industrial; and storage distribution.

Production at the smelter ended at 2pm on March 29, 2012, following a 90-day consultation period, before the site closed two months later, putting 515 people out of work. In June this year, all eight chimneys at the site were demolished and the rest of the buildings are now rented to other businesses.