Bennerley Viaduct: The transforming area around Nottinghamshire’s 'Iron Giant'
Nottinghamshire's ‘Iron Giant’ is now back to connecting two counties by foot with its new ramp recently unveiled and new business could soon be pulled to the area.
Bennerley Viaduct – known as the ‘Iron Giant’ – stands 20 metres above the Erewash Valley and connects Nottinghamshire’s Awsworth and Derbyshire’s Ilkeston areas by foot.
The Grade II-listed former railway bridge was built in 1877 to 1878 by the Great Northern Railway to carry the Friargate Line from Nottingham to Derby.
The Victorian structure is the longest wrought iron viaduct in England at a quarter of a mile long and is one of only two still standing today.
It became a public route for walkers and cyclists in 2022 after being closed for 54 years but Nottinghamshire’s eastern side was closed to make way for a new ramp in 2024 – a structure that was expected to complete in July that year.
However, the ramp was only officially opened on February 12 after wet weather and the discovery of an old mine shaft delayed works.
The area around the viaduct is set to transform into a cultural, leisure and business hub from this year, with further plans in the pipeline.
On the eastern side, the iconic structure’s new visitor centre is proposed to open this year and will feature a cafe and educational space for people to learn about the landmark and to host tours or school trips.
This will also be used as exhibition space to showcase creative works from the community.
The works were funded by a pot of money the Government gave to the council.
Works began on the centre in 2025 and it was originally thought to open in the autumn that year with the new ramp despite delays to fix a ‘crack’ in the ramp path.
Now, Broxtowe Council leader Coun Milan Radulovic (Brox All) says the hope is to open the visitor centre ‘during the Easter holidays' in April.
Five industrial units next to the viaduct’s visitor centre are currently being built and Coun Radulovic says he hopes these will be open by the late summer of this year.
These units form part of the council’s effort to draw business into the area which the leader says lost ‘tens of thousands of jobs’ when its industrial sector slowed down.
However, the new units will not be the only opportunity for business as developer Harworth wants to build a huge business and logistics park on farmland and on the former Bennerley Coal Disposal point to the west of Awsworth, near to the viaduct.
This will extend along A6069 Shilo Way up to the A610 and would provide around 1.3m sqft of industrial space across large and small units which Harworth says will create 1,000 full-time equivalent jobs once operational.
But residents of Awsworth and surrounding areas have been campaigning against these plans in a bid to protect the area’s ‘haven’ green space frequently used by dog walkers.
Speaking to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, Coun Radulovic said: “Gone are the days of the railway line across that site, the 40 bridges, the pits, it was an industrial area, work has transformed.
“No longer are the days where thousands of people were employed there, they’re not going to return.
"What we have to do is take advantage of investment and bring as many jobs into the area as we can.”
Coun Radulovic said there was a ‘dramatic need’ for jobs in surrounding areas like Eastwood and the wider area project is trying to ‘give hope’ for future generations.
He continued: “People look back with nostalgia through blinkered and rose-tinted spectacles.
"It was awful for many people, thousands of jobs gone from our are and people saying they don’t want this, they’ve got a house, they’ve got a job.”
The former coal disposal point area has been identified for development as part of the Greater Nottingham Strategic Plan from Broxtowe, Rushcliffe and Nottingham councils to build growth in their areas.
There is also potential for a rail terminal connecting to the Erewash Valley Line for freight to come in and out of the site.
Alongside the sizeable business park, Harworth submitted plans in January for an accompanying country park nearby that will run underneath the viaduct.
Part of this was formerly the coal disposal point, with the rest comprising green belt land that stretches along a rail line section splitting Awsworth and Ilkeston.
The 24-hectare green space would include new planted trees and would be split into three areas – one focused on meadows with views of the viaduct, another on an open space and a third on the wetlands to the south.
There is a proposed park run route, new pedestrian paths, a new wooden walkway across marshland, cycle paths, fitness equipment and outdoor seating.
The council wants to develop a 30-year maintenance plan with Harworth focused on cleaning and tidying the Erewash Valley.
Coun Radulovic says he wants to ‘get the East Midlands Mayor involved’ in this, where the authority has called on the East Midlands Combined County Authority to allocate money to this plan.
He said: “The River Erewash flows from that area to the River Trent in Attenborough.
“To prevent flooding we want to look at how waterworks feed into the River Erewash, the brook, and how we can increase water quality to slow down absorption into the River Trent and make sure we can prevent flooding.”
Speaking on the wider transformation around Bennerley Viaduct, he said: “We’re trying to address equality and poverty as well as protecting the environment.
“It’s not just a planning application, it’s how we protect and enhance jobs, enhance the environment, attract people to the area, see the ‘Iron Giant’, go to the visitor centre, promote an active lifestyle, recognise how the world is changing and to attract business to the area to give people a chance with jobs.”