Final design for unique Northumberlandia landform revealed

Wednesday 01 July 2009

The final designs for a unique artform that will be built into the Northumberland countryside are being revealed today (Wednesday 1 July).

World-renowned artist and designer Charles Jencks developed initial designs for the world’s largest sculpted human form, Northumberlandia, as part of proposals put forward by regional developer the Banks Group for a surface mine at Shotton, to the west of Cramlington in Northumberland.

Since the surface mine was given the go-ahead, the Banks Group and Blagdon Estate, on whose land the mine sits, have been working closely with Charles Jencks to finalise the design for the landform park, which will be accessible to the general public.

Four hundred metres long and up to 34 metres high, the Northumberlandia landform will form the centrepiece to a 29-hectare public park, and will be created from 1.5 million tonnes of soil and clay from the Shotton surface mine.

The creation of Northumberlandia, which will take up to a year to complete, will be done using bulldozers and excavators, and will be undertaken by Banks employees from the Shotton site.

The finalised design and construction plans have now been submitted to Northumberland County Council, with work due to begin in 2010.

Around 3.4 million tonnes of coal, two million tonnes of shale and 750,000 tonnes of fireclay will be mined over the eight-year lifetime of the Shotton mine, and on completion of work, the site will be fully restored to its former ‘green’ status.

The £2.5m Northumberlandia project is being funded by the Banks Group and the Blagdon Estate.

Mark Dowdall, environment and community director at The Banks Group, says: “Our duel aims with Northumberlandia were to create an outstanding artistic landmark which stands alongside the region’s other main tourist attractions and to provide high quality leisure facilities for the local community, and we believe this final design will succeed on both counts.

“Northumberlandia has already garnered interest and responses from people right around the world, and we’re very excited to now be unveiling the project’s final form.

“it will take around 20 minutes just to walk all the way around her, and the design has been enhanced with more paths to allow visitors to the park to easily ascend the figure.

“As well as the artwork itself, the surrounding landform park will offer important nature conservation and public health benefits, giving both local people and visitors an ideal place to exercise, picnic and enjoy themselves.”

“This artwork could not exist without the adjacent mining operation, and the sculpture will be part of the long-term local legacy that we always wanted the Shotton scheme to leave, alongside the eventual restoration of the mine itself.

“We believe Northumberlandia will complement and enhance north east England’s existing cultural offering, and we are certain that it will be a valuable asset to the region, attracting visitors to Cramlington and the surrounding area.

“Unveiling these final designs is a real milestone for everyone involved with the scheme, and we’re very much looking forward to commencing construction work on Northumberlandia next year.”

Bob Downer, chief executive at the Blagdon Estate, adds: “Blagdon Estate has had an active role in the development of the local community for over 250 years, and is pleased to be able to contribute to this project which we believe will have positive benefits for the region.

“Northumberlandia is a bold and exciting example of a public facility provided by the private sector, and is a unique opportunity which will provide an exciting location for many future generations to come.”

The Land Restoration Trust, an organisation which secures the long term future of public spaces, such as Northumberlandia, and manages them sustainably for community benefit has been highlighted as the potential long term managers of the park.

Euan Hall, Chief Executive of the Trust, comments “Northumberlandia is a hugely exciting project and the Trust is delighted to be involved. The aim of our organisation is to ensure communities benefit from green open spaces and Northumberladia will certainly provide significant community benefit and add to areas rich cultural landscape”

For further information about the project, please visit http://www.northumberlandia.com/

Last updated: Wednesday 01 July 2009, 15:37 PM