Published: Monday 07th June 2021 | 9.10am
The town of Rugeley has bid farewell to its four, 117m high concrete cooling towers that have dominated the skyline for decades, after a controlled collapse demolition event on Sunday 6 June. Members of the community watched the livestreamed event to remove the last major component of Rugeley B Power Station following the plant’s closure in 2016.
ENGIE, the leading energy, services and regeneration specialist which formerly operated the station will now progress with ambitious plans to redevelop its site into low-carbon mixed use community. It will be the first time a major UK energy company will lead the repurposing of one of its own sites. As master developer, ENGIE will combine its unique combination of capabilities in energy, services and regeneration, to lead the transformation.
Rugeley B Power Station which was opened in 1970, ceased generation in 2016. In 2018 ENGIE announced plans to transform the former 1 GW coal fired station into an entirely new, sustainable and smart community.
After three years of extensive community engagement and planning, authorities granted outline planning permission in April this year, to deliver a mixed-use development of 2,300 new low carbon homes with a low-carbon all through school. The wider Rugeley masterplan also includes more than 12 acres of employment space, a new neighbourhood centre and a country park alongside the River Trent – providing access to a section of riverside which has been inaccessible for decades.
Demolition of the cooling tower structures marks the start of the redevelopment phase and a new chapter for the town – moving from coal-based technology to one of the lowest carbon mixed use developments of its size in the UK. To realise this potential, ENGIE will look to use a number of innovative technologies and community energy solutions, including onsite renewable energy generation and smart homes which incorporate battery and solar PV solutions.
Colin Macpherson, Divisional CEO for ENGIE UK & Ireland, said: “The next ten years are crucial to address the climate crisis – and in the same timescale this regeneration project will become a reference of sustainable living, fit for the UK’s net-zero future. The local people have been at the heart of every decision, concept and planning application, with our teams determined to deliver something special for the people of Rugeley – that will inject new life, jobs, homes and education into the community.
“This is a really meaningful example of building back greener and better in the wake of the Covid pandemic and we are lucky to have had the backing and support of Cannock Chase District Council, Lichfield District Council and Staffordshire County Council to bring this to fruition. We hope this regeneration could become a blueprint for other UK former carbon intensive industrial centres to create positive outcomes for their communities compatible with a net-zero future.”
Cannock Chase Council’s Leader, Councillor Olivia Lyons said: “This is both an exciting and emotional day for the community. It’s exciting as it shows ENGIE’s ambitious plans for this brownfield site are starting to become reality, yet emotional too for our community. Local people like myself have grown up with the towers being such a dominant feature in the local landscape and they are visible for miles around.
“From today an icon of Rugeley is no more but there is no doubt a bright future is on the horizon, with welcome new homes, the planned all-through school, premises for businesses and leisure facilities including a new riverside country park the whole community will be able to use and enjoy.
“We may be saying goodbye to the towers and to an element of our local industrial past but we must now look forward to an environmental future where responding to climate change will feature for both ENGIE as site developers and the Council with its commitment to economic recovery and health and wellbeing in Rugeley, and across the District.”
The Leader of Lichfield District Council, Doug Pullen, said: “I’m delighted that we have reached this significant milestone in the re-development of this key site and can start looking forward to the opportunities that its regeneration will bring in terms of new housing, employment, education and leisure facilities working with partner authorities and with ENGIE.”
Staffordshire County Council’s deputy leader and cabinet member for economy and skills Philip White said: “Demolition of the cooling towers at the Rugeley power station site marks a significant milestone for its redevelopment. We will now begin to see the site being reshaped into a low carbon community with residential, employment, education and leisure space.
“It puts us at the forefront of sustainable development delivery which will be a model for other sites across the UK as we move towards a net-zero Staffordshire. The development is exciting for us as a county council as it will contain our first all-through school. It also helps us to achieve our priorities and regenerating our towns and key transport corridors, supporting small businesses and ensuring people have the skills needed to take advantage of employment opportunities.
“The repurposing of the site is another fine example of how the private sector is working with local government to achieve the best outcomes for our communities.”
About ENGIE
ENGIE is a leading energy and services company focused on three key activities: production and supply of low carbon energy, services and regeneration. Our 17,000 employees combine these activities to enable our customers & stakeholders to embrace a greener, more efficient and increasingly digital world.
Our purpose is to make zero carbon happen for businesses and communities throughout the UK & Ireland – accelerating the transition towards a net zero carbon world. We make this possible by reducing energy consumption and driving efficiency, greening supply and enabling progress through innovative technology, data & partnerships. We are also shaping the future of responsible business by reconciling economic performance with a positive impact on people and the planet.
Globally, the ENGIE Group employs 170,000 people worldwide and achieved revenues €55.8 billion in 2020.
For further information on ENGIE, visit www.engie.co.uk