The development site has a complex brownfield history, originally established in the late 1890s as part of a colliery operation with associated mine shafts and a mineral railway. Although these features were removed by the late 1930s, they left behind a legacy of underground voids and potential ground instability. The land subsequently underwent various uses, including a football ground and spoil heap, before being redeveloped in the 1960s for clothing and engineering works. Over time, most original structures were demolished and replaced with newer buildings.

Compounding the challenge, the surrounding area has a long record of contaminative and heavy industrial activity, including gas works, rail infrastructure, engineering facilities, printing and pigment works, historic coal pits, and a quarry. This combination of historical land use raised significant geotechnical and environmental concerns for redevelopment.

A key risk emerged during plans to construct a new Aldi store. A 3-metre diameter mine shaft was identified on immediately adjacent land, posing a serious threat to the stability of the access road to the Aldi car park. In the event of a mine shaft collapse, the road could suffer catastrophic failure, leading to major disruption, safety hazards, and potential loss of access to the retail site.