Scotland

Gateside Property Development

Before: For many years, Gateside Colliery worked the deep coal seems beneath Cambuslang, at a mine typical of the Glasgow area. Following the closure of the pit, the area was leased to a variety of "bad neighbour" users including a scrap metal yard and rubber vulcanising operator. The site also became a serious problem with increasing fly tipping of commercial and domestic rubbish. All of this lay immediately next to private and local authority housing, with the huge scale of coal heaps (called bings in Scotland) overshadowing and blighting the whole area.

After: Over a period of 4 years the site was cleared of the excess colliery spoil and contamination. During the later stages suitable spoil material was compacted to depths of 11metres over parts of the site, in a controlled engineering operation. The original pit shafts were also excavated ready for grouting and capping in order to make them safe. This created an attractive site for almost 200 houses which was then sold to private house builders for development. (Photo: Air Fotos Ltd.)