See the incredible transformation of the former Alex Smiles waste site in Sunderland

The site in Deptford has been closed since private waste operator Alex Smiles went into administration in 2015.

It was also the scene of a major fire in May 2018 which took more than three weeks to extinguish.

But in December 2019 Sunderland City Council bought the land and plans to lease it to leading crane manufacturer Liebherr whose business is next door.

Since the start of the year work has been ongoing to remove the waste on the site so that it can be transformed into a manufacturing base.

Now the council has announced that the site has now been completely cleared by Acumen Waste.

Councillor Graeme Miller, Leader of Sunderland City Council, said: "I'm absolutely delighted to see this work complete, given the blight this site has been on our city for a number of years.

"Its clearance and transformation into a major employment site has long been a goal for both the City Council and the Environment Agency.

"You only have to look at the before and after pictures and drone footage to see the scale of the task ahead when we first took over the site and the spectacular progress that's been made in a relatively short space of time.

"This not only helps safeguard jobs at one of our major manufacturing firms but paves the way for its future expansion onto the site."

Andrew Turner, Environment Agency’s area environment manager (regulated industry), said: "It has taken a lot of hard work to get to this point working closely with Sunderland City Council to ensure the waste was cleared in a way that reduced further risk to the environment.

“The majority of the site was cleared before mid-March, and since then waste crews have completed the work following the current social distancing guidelines ensuring the safety of the workers, their families and the wider public.

"This joint effort will help the site prepare for the next chapter of its life, and it was made possible with support from the Treasury, who are refunding the landfill tax element of the clear up costs - representing the Government’s commitment to supporting economic development in the North of England."

Liebherr, which is looking to expand its Sunderland base, currently employs 200 people in highly skilled jobs producing Reachstackers and Harbour Mobile Cranes.

The company has also part funded the clearance of the site.

Ralph Saezler, managing director of Liebherr Sunderland Works, said: "We are absolutely delighted to see the site cleared of the waste.

“On the one hand, thanks to the close and highly valued cooperation of Sunderland City Council and Environment Agency, offering the long awaited opportunity for us to finally take over the site with the business potentials attached to that - safeguarding the jobs of our highly skilled work force.

“And on the other hand, to see a serious health and safety risk taken away for the benefit of the wider community."

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