Wyre Council urges Thornton residents to have their say on future of Hillhouse Enterprise Zone amid AGC issues
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Wyre Council has reiterated its urging of the public to have their say on the future of Hillhouse Enterprise Zone in Thornton.
Inviting residents, businesses and other stakeholders to take part in a public consultation on a refreshed masterplan for the site, Wyre Council it will be gathering locals’ opinions until Friday, November 6 and is seeking views on the draft review of the Hillhouse Technology Enterprise Zone masterplan, including its future priorities and development opportunities.
The review comes amid significant changes affecting the site and the wider economic landscape, including an announcement by chemical manufacturer AGC Chemicals Europe that it plans to cease production by the end of December, putting around 200 jobs at risk.
Wyre Council said the consultation was focused on future plans for the enterprise zone and was separate from the ongoing Part 2A contaminated land process. It does not form part of that investigation.
Located in Thornton, Hillhouse was designated a government-approved Enterprise Zone in 2016 and is considered a strategically important location for economic growth, investment, innovation and employment within Wyre.
The existing masterplan was consulted on in 2018 before being adopted by Wyre Council. However, changes to the site, the business environment and the wider economy have prompted the authority to review its vision for the area.
The consultation provides an opportunity for the community and businesses to contribute to discussions about the site's future direction. The review is taking place against the backdrop of environmental investigations into historic contamination around the former ICI Hillhouse site, where AGC Chemicals Europe operates.
The Environment Agency has confirmed that sampling at Hillylaid Pool, an effluent pit near the historic industrial site, found evidence of historical per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), often referred to as ‘forever chemicals’. The investigation includes concerns about perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), a man-made chemical used at the site between the 1950s and 2012.
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Wyre Council launched a multi-agency investigation in 2024 to examine potential historic contamination from the former ICI site and whether PFOA released into the air may have been deposited on surrounding land. The masterplan consultation is separate from that ongoing contaminated land investigation.
Meanwhile, AGC Chemicals Europe announced in July that it had begun a 45-day consultation process ahead of plans to wind down its Thornton site. The company expects production to cease by December 31, with 190 permanent employees and 18 agency workers affected.
In a statement on its website, the company said: “Regrettably, AGCCE has concluded that there is no viable solution to keep the site operating in the context of a volatile and competitive market.”
The council's review of the masterplan will consider the future of the strategically important site as it faces changes to its industrial operations and the wider economic environment. Residents, businesses and stakeholders can submit their views on the draft review until Friday, November 6.