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Site Description
Aerial Image of Peel Park
Peel Park is a large and varied site situated close to Accrington town centre that is approximately 88 hectares in size. It occupies land between Burnley Road (the A679), the A56 and Plantation Road and includes The Coppice area. The site contains many features and habitats of interest including open moorland, reservoirs, deep valleys and the remains of several quarries and landfill sites.
Peel Park also has an extensive footpath/bridleway network but this is in need of improvement and although popular with local residents the site has the potential to be used more widely by people throughout East Lancashire and beyond.
Grid Reference: 377532 429460
Size: 88ha
Site Boundary
View the site boundary
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Current Status
Northern Part of Site
The central area of Peel Park is the most visually prominent, rising up to open moorland over 260 metres above sea level. This area also contains The Coppice viewpoint and woodland plantation. The existing formal entrance into Peel Park from Avenue Parade and a playground, bowling green, tennis court and allotments are all located within this area of the site.
The southern part of the site contains a variety of landscape features including reservoirs and ponds, steep sided valleys and several woodland plantations. Plantation Road is the main access route through this part of the site.
The northern area of Peel Park includes land to the rear of properties on Burnley Road, some of which is in private ownership. Rough grassland covers much of this part of the site and there are also some areas of hard standing.
Previous Use
The moorland in the central area of the site was used for training the Accrington Pals soldiers during World War 1 and the remains of trenches can still be seen today.
The northern area of the site at Hillock Vale was previously extensively quarried and landfill operations also took place here. The southern part of the site contains the remains of several buildings including Plantation Mill and Arden Hall, a former manor house and this area was also previously landfilled.
Proposed Use
Plantation Road Area
Peel Park has the potential to become a site of county and potentially regional importance and although the final end uses for the site are to be developed through the design process, the REMADE scheme is likely to focus on several key areas:-
Access - Many of the routes through the site are in poor condition and the project will look to improve existing links to Accrington town centre and Burnley Road and create new routes. The potential for new signage, seating & interpretation features will also be explored.
Wildlife - Peel Park supports many valuable species and habitats and contains a Biological Heritage Site. The REMADE scheme will look to preserve and enhance existing ecological assets including grassland and wetland habitats with the potential that the site will become the largest Local Nature Reserve in Lancashire.
Recreation - The improvement of existing informal and formal recreation facilities will be explored as part of the scheme. Existing and potential uses for the site include walking, horse riding, mountain biking, canoeing and gorge walking.
Heritage - Peel Park has a considerable history and the project will look at the potential for interpretation of historic features such as Arden Hall and the World War 1 trenches.
Aerial Photo
View an aerial photo of the site.
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Design
The design process for the REMADE scheme at Peel Park commenced in April 2007, the first stage of this being the production of a masterplan for the site. It is currently envisaged that the detailed design for the site will be completed in Autumn 2008 with works on site currently scheduled to start soon afterwards.
The design for the REMADE scheme will be progressed in consultation with key partners including Hyndburn Borough Council, Lancashire Wildlife Trust and local community groups such as the Friends of Arden Hall.
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