The Site
The site is located to the west of Awsworth, adjacent to the A6069 Shilo Way. The site is bordered by the A610 and Giltbrook to the north, and the Erewash Valley Railway Line to the west, towards Ilkeston. The River Erewash passes through the site in a north-to-south direction along the western edge of the site.
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Site Description
The site consists of the former Bennerley Coal Disposal Point, and agricultural land. The River Erewash is located on the Western edge of the site. The site is divided by field boundary hedgerows. The site is fairly level, with a downward slope towards the River Erewash.
The site is bound to the north by the A610 and to the east by the A6069 Shilo Way, with the Erewash Valley Railway Line forming the site boundary to the west. To the north of the site lies a Severn Trent sewage works.
A number of bridleways and footpaths pass within and around the site, connecting Giltbrook to Ilkeston via the Bennerley Viaduct. The Viaduct is a Grade II* listed structure, historically used for freight traffic associated with Nottinghamshire coal mining industry.
Friends of Bennerley Viaduct Visitor Centre
The FoBV trustees have set out their vision “Bridging the Gap” for the development of the Bennerley Viaduct and its surroundings as a successful, financially viable heritage attraction and community asset.
The development of greater links to, and working partnerships with, the Erewash Canal and the Erewash Museum, present the possibility of an ‘Heritage Hub’ which will contribute to the revitalisation and regeneration of the area.
"Bridging the Gap" will build the skills and capacity within the FoBV for the successful development of the Viaduct as a visitor attraction, a community asset and a pivotal partner in the regeneration of area.
Approved Visitor Centre Elevations
Phase Two: 2024 to 2027 – Increased Access and Visitor Facilities
Visitors to the viaduct will be able to enjoy a cafe and a visitor centre. During this phase it is hoped to increase physical access and connections to public rights of way and develop visitor facilities.
Phase Two will include:
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Building an Eastern Ramp;
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Creating a Visitor Centre and café building; and
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Creating picnic areas for visitors to rest and enjoy the viaduct and its surroundings.
Works are well underway and it is hoped that the new visitor centre will be open to the public in October 2025.
CGI render of Visitor Centre
Broxtowe Small Employment Units
Harworth are committed to delivering approximately 14,000 square feet of employment space on behalf of Broxtowe Borough Council as the first phase of employment space delivery at Bennerley.
The buildings comprise five starter units in total, ready to provide employment opportunities for the local area. This sustainable development is designed to achieve BREEAM ‘Very Good’ accreditation and achieves the Local Authorities Biodiversity Net Gain requirements. The development includes the construction of a new access road and landscaping that will provide connectivity for vehicles, pedestrian and cyclists, from Shilo Way into the Bennerley Site and adjacent Friends of Bennerley Viaduct visitors centre.
Construction is expected to commence in Q3 2025 and is targeted for completion in Q2 2026.
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Site Layout
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3D Render - Unit 1
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3D Render - Unit 2
To the east of Shilo Way, the Avant Homes development named ‘Bennerley View’ is underway.
The development comprises 250 high-quality homes, offering a diverse mix of 2, 3, 4, and 5-bedroom properties. This includes a blend of open market sales, 21 discounted market-sale units, and 29 affordable homes.
Currently, 12 homes are occupied. The overall build and estate completion is scheduled for Q3 2026, and this remains on track to meet this target. However, this timeline is subject to potential changes depending on broader economic conditions.
Work on the newly constructed junction and pedestrian crossing on Shilo Way is progressing well and remains on schedule for completion by the end of June 2025.
This new access point will serve as the primary construction entrance moving forward, allowing the existing entrance via Newtons Lane to be reserved for residents and clients.
Installation of all main utilities (Gas, Water, Electricity, and Fibre) is underway in line with development requirements. The site will benefit from high-speed fibre broadband, offering internet speeds of up to 1Gbps.