Sale of underground Teesside mine presents “unique” industrial opportunity

Avison Young’s Energy, Waste Management and Minerals team, supported by their North East Industrial colleagues has secured a “unique” instruction to sell a disused former anhydrite mine at Billingham, Teesside.

The mine is located on the north bank of the River Tees and to the south east of Billingham town centre with access from Haverton Hill Road via a right of way. Alternative transport north is available by the Durham Coast Rail Line.

Anhydrite was mined at the site from 1921 until 1971 with over 33,000,000 tonnes being extracted principally to make fertilisers and cements. The mine is accessed from two shafts some 230 metres in depth, surrounded by a site of 2.42 hectares (5.54 acres) at ground level.

The mine extends over a distance of approximately 1.5 km east to west and 3 km north to south with a total footprint of around 400 hectares (988.42 acres) and a volume (excluding pillars) of approximately 11,500,000 sq m.

The mine offers potential for a wide range of storage uses including, but not limited to, waste materials in a non-reactive environment.

Mark Leivers, director in Avison Young’s Energy, Waste Management and Minerals team, commented: “The mine was originally purchased by our client with the intention to store APCr, which is a residual waste created from Energy-from-Waste (EfW) plants.

“EfW capacity is expected to grow over the medium to long term and therefore so will the requirement to provide suitable management options for APCr, which includes underground storage. Alternatively, the mine offers an innovative alternative to meeting the demand for industrial/storage land, for which there is a chronic shortage above ground.”

Danny Cramman, director in the North East Industrial team, added: “There is a lot happening in the Teesside area, with big projects such as Teesworks attracting international attention and building its reputation as a home for diverse, sustainable and low carbon activity.

“The area also boasts the UK’s largest freeport. The subject site offers an exciting opportunity to the market.”