£200m vision for former Ravenscraig steelworks site

Plans to create hundreds of jobs through a £200 million development at a former steelworks site have been revealed by a transp or t and logistics company.

Russell Group is seeking permission to build a rail head logistics hub at former industrial site Ravenscraig in North Lanarkshire.

The proposed development would serve as the company's UK headquarters and would include a training academy whi l e a l s o f u n c ti o n i n g a s a "test bed" for innovation in the transport industry.

The site's developer, Ravenscraig Ltd, has been in talks with Russell Group about the plans and a planning application notice is due to b e sub - mitted to North Lanarkshire Council this week.

D e v e l o p e r s s a i d

t h e h u b would create 200 jobs when operational.

Kenneth Russell, director at Russell Group, said: "Ravenscraig is set to b e one of the b e s t - c o n n e c t e d l o c a t i o n s in S cotland and is uniquely positioned to be home to our p l a n n e d h e a d q u a r t e r s a n d logistics hub.

"We are hugely excited by the potential of this development, which will drive real and tangible benefits to the local population, not least through the creation of hundreds of new and high-quality jobs.

"At a time when there is so much economic uncertainty, we are proud to be investing in North Lanarkshire.

"While we are at the star t of the planning pro cess, we are committed to consulting with the public on our plans and will set them out in more detail over the coming weeks and months."

If the plans are approved, c o n s t r u c t i o n wo r k w o u l d begin towards the end of 2021 w i t h t h e f i r s t p h a s e o f t h e development expected to be completed by early 2023.

Further phases would cont i n u e t o b e d e l ive r e d whi l e the first section is operational, with overall completion by early 2026.

A virtual public consultation is due to be held on November 25 and December 9. R avensc ra ig ste elworks clo sed in 1992.

R avenscraig Ltd, comprising Scottish Enterprise, Wilson B owden Developments and Tata Steel, aims to rede - velop the site to have economic impact in Nor th Lanarkshire and further afield. Hund r e d s o f h o me s h ave b e e n built in the area since 2006, as well as a campus of New College Lanarkshire and a major sports centre.