Costain and National Highways Rewild Former Mine into a Thriving Natural Haven
Just off one of the UK’s busiest stretches of motorway, where the hum of engines on the M6 barely pauses, a remarkable transformation has quietly unfolded. A barren opencast mine near Wigan has been reborn as the Sandyforth Green Gateway—a 34-hectare patchwork of grasslands, ponds and walking trails that now serves as a thriving wildlife refuge and recreational escape.
This green miracle didn’t happen by accident. It was the result of a long-term collaboration between infrastructure heavyweight Costain and National Highways, working in tandem as part of the M6 Smart Motorway Programme (SMP) Alliance. Their goal was more than just laying tarmac or easing congestion. This was about giving something back to the land, and the people who live near it.
Biodiversity at the Heart of the Mission
While adding an extra lane between junctions 21a and 26 of the M6 may have captured headlines, it’s the legacy left behind that could make a longer-lasting impact. Costain led a sweeping ecological initiative to rewild the site with the aim of boosting biodiversity and creating a space where both nature and people could flourish.
The project delivered:
- Over 24 hectares of species-rich grassland planted with native seed mixes
- Seven new ponds and wetland areas to support amphibians, birds and aquatic life
- A network of footpaths and walking trails to ensure public access
Tom Kenyon, Project Director at Costain, emphasised the wider goals: “Throughout the delivery of this vital M6 upgrade we’ve ensured the scheme improves the lives of local communities not only through better journeys and social mobility, but through a positive environmental legacy as well.
“Together with National Highways and our supply chain partners, we’ve applied our engineering and ecological expertise at Sandyforth to increase biodiversity and rejuvenate the natural environment across an enormous area, contributing to a sustainable, decarbonised future for the region for decades to come.”
A Vision Funded for the Long Haul
To ensure Sandyforth Green Gateway doesn’t become a one-off wonder, National Highways and Wigan Council inked a multimillion-pound agreement to maintain the site for up to 30 years. That means a generation of local families, school groups and nature lovers can enjoy the results of today’s investments far into the future.
The site lies alongside a motorway used by more than eight million vehicles each year. What was once an industrial eyesore has been turned into a visual delight and an environmental asset, softening the M6 corridor with a belt of green.
Stephen Elderkin, National Highways’ Environmental Sustainability Division Lead, was clear about the wider impact: “We’re committed to significantly improving biodiversity near our road network, and projects such as this are important in putting the strategic road network at the heart of nature’s recovery.
“At National Highways, our work goes beyond operating, maintaining and improving roads; we’re investing in the environment and communities surrounding our network, helping to unlock the creation and enhancement of habitats, and this is an example of the difference we can make with designated funding.”
A Ripple Effect Across the Region
The Sandyforth transformation is just one chapter in a much larger story. Since the M6 upgrade began in 2021, Costain has been embedding social and environmental value across the North West. From Eccles to Salford, they’ve rolled up their sleeves to deliver more than just roads.
Projects include:
- A self-sustaining water system for a community and educational garden
- Support for local sports clubs and charities helping vulnerable groups
- Contributions to hospice care, youth outreach programmes and vocational colleges
This approach is emblematic of Costain’s broader vision: to shape sustainable infrastructure that improves lives while respecting the planet.
Costain’s Broader Commitment to Sustainability
The Sandyforth Green Gateway fits seamlessly into Costain’s overarching mission to engineer better futures. The company isn’t just about concrete and steel—it’s about connecting communities, anticipating environmental challenges and finding sustainable solutions that outlast project deadlines.
Through a potent mix of construction expertise, consultancy know-how and digital innovation, Costain is reshaping what it means to be a 21st-century infrastructure provider. Their work across the transport, water, energy and defence sectors is increasingly coloured by a sustainability-first ethos, backed by measurable outcomes.
“We help to improve people’s lives by creating connected, sustainable infrastructure that enables people and the planet to thrive,” says Costain in its corporate mission.
A Blueprint for Future Projects
The success of Sandyforth sends a strong signal to other developers and policy makers: infrastructure investment can and should deliver ecological returns. With designated environmental funding, smart partnerships and a clear long-term plan, brownfield and post-industrial sites can be reimagined as green assets.
As the UK eyes ambitious climate targets and biodiversity goals, this kind of rewilding-by-design may soon become a cornerstone of transport infrastructure planning.
So while the extra lane on the M6 may keep the North West economy moving, it’s the flourishing grasslands, chirping wildlife and muddy walking boots at Sandyforth that will tell the story of what truly matters in the decades ahead.
Planting Seeds for the Future
The Sandyforth Green Gateway is more than just a landscaping success story. It’s proof that when civil engineering teams prioritise environmental outcomes, the results can be transformative. A former mine, once stripped of its natural wealth, now blooms with promise.
It’s a reminder to planners, policy makers and investors alike that with a bit of foresight, collaboration and commitment to biodiversity, even the most industrial corners of the UK can spring back to life.
Costain, National Highways, rewilding, infrastructure sustainability, biodiversity UK, green gateway Wigan, M6 upgrade, ecological restoration, sustainable construction, environmental legacy
