Laing O'Rourke plans to transform the 210 acre site of the former Steetley Colliery where generations of pit workers were once employed. Initially the company plans to replace the derelict and dangerous Baker Refractories works adjacent to the former colliery with a state-of-the-art manufacturing plant.

The first phase of the application, being submitted to Bolsover and Bassetlaw District councils, also involves creating a new access road off the main A619 and remedial work to remove asbestos and other hazardous materials from the site.

Outlining the plans, Laing O'Rourke Construction Managing Director, Mike Robins, said; " Initially we are seeking to remove the former Baker Refractories works and clean-up the surrounding area, before we can begin building the most technologically advanced manufacturing plants of its type in the UK. As a very first step we need to construct a new access road from the A619 because Steetley Lane, while used historically, is not a suitable access.

"This is an exciting day for us and a day of enormous promise for a region which has been blighted by economic hardship as the result of waves of job losses over several decades."

The manufacturing plant, for the production of construction materials for the UK market, will initially create up to 270 jobs for both skilled and semi-skilled workers, with the majority of staff recruited locally.

If planners give the go-ahead, work is expected to start in the autumn, with local recruitment in the build-up to commencing production next summer.