JPG on board as Airfields progresses

Structural and civil engineering firm JPG Group has been appointed to deliver phase two enabling works at the mixed-use Airfields project in Deeside.

JPG has been involved with the wider Northern Gateway project for six years, advising on infrastructure and masterplanning during phase one. The Northern Gateway, which sits within the Deeside Enterprise Zone, comprises three elements: the former RAF Sealand South Camp, RAF Sealand East Camp, and the former Corus steelworks. .

The Airfields, which is being advanced by Praxis, is within the South Camp plot, and is billed as having 140 acres available for immediate development. B8RE is instructed as sole agent on commercial space at the site.

Initially, JPG advised on 1,500m of flood defences from the River Dee with the creation of new watercourses through the site, and provision for first part of the Welsh Government-funded spinal road to unlock the Airfields site for development including a residential area and roadside retail.

Countryside Properties in now on site delivering 283 homes as a first residential phase, billed as Dutton Fields – of these, 99 homes are built in partnership with Sigma as private rented, and 28 homes are classed as affordable. .

Chris Harding, managing director at JPG Group said: “The site is the former RAF Sealand South Camp which when we first became involved had immediate flood threats and very minimal access to existing key infrastructure such as power and drainage.

“As the project’s lead consultant our role has been critical in advising the client on viability and economic development potential. We are serving the project with experts from our teams in Strategic Land, Infrastructure and Geo-Environmental Engineering. We are both designing the infrastructure and simultaneously identifying best development potential for interested parties.”

The wider Northern Gateway site benefits from outline planning consent for up to 4m sq ft of industrial and commercial accommodation, including 290,000 sq ft of roadside, retail, leisure, hotel, business and supporting uses plus 1,325 new homes.