Princeton Junction-based International Process Plants (IPP) the world’s largest buyer and seller of used process plants and equipment and closed industrial manufacturing sites, announced the completion of the final phase of its award-winning redevelopment of the historic Croda/Price’s Patent Candles site in Bromborough, England.
The milestone caps more than a decade of work to transform the shuttered 30-acre manufacturing site dating to 1853 into a modern mixed-use community featuring housing, employment, green space and infrastructure improvements.
IPP was presented with the industry’s top award for the planning and placemaking of the redevelopment of a brownfield site. Prior to any new construction, IPP did all of the site work and worked diligently with the municipality to achieve all required preconstruction planning to bring the site into shovel-ready condition.
Homebuilder Persimmon is constructing its final phase of 116 new homes on the riverfront parcel to complete the 315-home work-play-live community, including 20% designated as affordable housing, with public open space, an equipped play area and a newly created riverside walkway.
“Converting this candle and oleochemical manufacturing site was one of the most complex brownfield redevelopment projects ever done in the United Kingdom, and IPP proved once again that we can deliver results where others see only obstacles,” said Ron Gale, President of IPP. “We acquired the site, handled the environmental remediation, redeployed the plant assets worldwide and worked with partners to restore it as not just another warehouse or residential development, but a vibrant integrated community.”
IPP acquired the site in 2009, shortly after the plant’s closure eliminated a final 115 jobs. Through the redevelopment, the project has generated an estimated 1,890 construction and remediation jobs resulting in 150 long-term jobs. Work included environmental remediation and new infrastructure, housing and manufacturing facilities that brought employment back to the region.
As much work as possible was done with local labor.
“Our success in Bromborough demonstrates what sets IPP apart. We don’t just sell plants and equipment; we deliver complete solutions,” said Jan Gale, Executive Vice President of IPP. “By combining our expertise in asset resale with our commitment to environmental stewardship and community regeneration, we turned a 19th-century closed factory, along with its environmental problems, into a 21st-century multi-use neighborhood.”
Achievements of the Croda/Price’s Candles redevelopment
- Housing and community growth: Working together, Persimmon Homes and IPP have rebuilt an entire neighborhood. When Persimmon completes the last phase, there will be 315 new residences.
- Environmental restoration: The River Dibbin was rerouted and a tidal wetland habitat created to reduce flood risk.
- Historic preservation: The listed clock tower building over 100 years old was restored to its original architecture and repurposed as supported living apartments.
- New employment access: Separate roadways were created to link the development with the Wirral International Business Park.
- Waterfront access: For the first time, the public can enjoy a newly created riverside walk and bike path along the site.
- Global asset redeployment: Much of the process equipment was sold, moved and re-erected at facilities across Europe, the United States and beyond for reuse — a more-sustainable solution than scrapping and or landfilling.
The project earned the National Award for Placemaking on Brownfield Land, recognizing its contributions to regeneration, sustainable development and community impact. The redevelopment was designed by Ainsley Gommon Architects to reflect the original “garden village” concept created for factory workers more than 150 years ago.
In addition to the new homes and public spaces, new jobs also have been created in the adjoining mixed-use commercial element. Capital Reinforcing, a structural-steel and fabrication specialist, and Lexicraft Limited, manufacturers of high-quality identification products, including labels, decals, nameplates and membrane switches, are active on the site.
Also, the historic clock tower building, the original headquarters building for Price’s Candles, has been beautifully restored for the Wirral Methodist Housing Association to provide sheltered housing accommodations, mainly for older people or those with special needs who wish to live independently but also have support available if needed.
“This achievement showcases IPP’s unmatched ability to take on projects of global scale and complexity, and transform entire communities,” Ron Gale said.
About International Process Plants
International Process Plants (IPP) is a global leader in the purchase, sale and redeployment of used and new process plants and equipment. The company operates 20 complete plant sites and maintains an inventory of more than 15,000 pieces of equipment across 15 countries. IPP’s focus industries include chemical, pharmaceutical, petrochemical, fine/specialty chemical, agrichemical/fertilizers, plastics/polymers, steel, oil/gas, food processing, power generation, paper and metals processing/refining industries. The IPP Group of Companies includes Universal Glasteel Equipment (UGE), a manufacturer of glass-lined equipment, and Gale Process Solutions (GPS), a manufacturer of alloy process equipment. IPP is based in Princeton Junction, New Jersey.
