Construction work started this week on the 1,200 new home development at Torne Park.

Harron Homes has now started the construction process of 70 homes earlier this week at the former Rossington Colliery site near Doncaster, after Harworth Estates, the UK property regeneration company owned by Harworth Group plc, spent the last 18 months undertaking preparation works for the first phase of development.

Harworth secured outline planning consent in December 2012, which includes up to 1,200 new homes, commercial buildings, food retail, a school and a health centre. The initial phase is set to create up to 166 new homes over the next two years.

Harron Homes plans to deliver a range of four-bed detached homes, as well as private amenity features and tree planting in public spaces, to create an attractive living environment.  

Taylor Wimpey also received detailed planning consent this week for up to 96 new homes.  

The development of Torne Park was unlocked by the construction of the Finningley and Rossington Regeneration Route Scheme (FARRRS) link road. The £56 million which is funded by the Regional Growth Fund, Harworth Estates, Peel Group and Verdion.

The scheme began in autumn two years ago, and is expected to be completed in January next year.

Commenting on the progress, Tim Love, Director of Strategic Land at Harworth Estates, said: “This is a milestone for Harworth Estates as a company and for the FARRRS project as a whole.  It is testament to the hard work of all those involved in the programme that we’ve reached this stage and we look forward to delivering our promise of up to 1,200 new homes over the next 10 years”.

Katie Charlesworth, Sales and Marketing Director at Harron Homes, said: “We are delighted to begin work at Torne Park.  We have asked the Mayor of Doncaster to name this part of the development and she has selected ‘Heatherfields at Torne Park’.  We will now be building the first show homes which will be opened by the Mayor later this year”.

Ian Thomson, Land Director of Taylor Wimpey Yorkshire, added: “Taylor Wimpey Yorkshire is delighted to be involved in this project.  The scheme is an exciting regeneration opportunity and enables us to strengthen our presence in Doncaster through the delivery of quality homes”.

Peter Dale, Director of Regeneration and Environment at Doncaster Council, noted: “It is fantastic to see housebuilding starting at Torne Park, which really shows that the FARRRS development is coming to fruition. The scheme will create new jobs and opportunities for people in Doncaster, and these new homes will feed in to this exciting period of growth”.