ESHA were commissioned by Redrow Homes to design a Masterplan for 800 houses on the site of the former Penallta Colliery in the South Wales’ valleys. The site is down in the Nant Cylla valley flanked by Penallta Country Park, which has been reclaimed from former slag tips, on each side. The heart of the development will be the Grade 2 listed Power Hall, the largest steam-fired turbine facility of its kind in Europe, which is to be converted into flats. The Masterplan optimises east-west links as tree planted boulevards linking to the open countryside on either side. Construction is due to start on site in mid 2005.