ENGIE, leading energy, services and regeneration specialist, has been granted outline planning permission from Cannock Chase District Council and Lichfield District Council, for the significant redevelopment of Rugeley Power Station in Staffordshire.
After three years of extensive community engagement and planning, ENGIE will now progress plans to transform the former coal-fired Power Station site, which it owns, into a sustainable, mixed-use development of 2,300 new low carbon homes with a low carbon all through school.
With outline planning now confirmed, ENGIE will be able to make headway with infrastructure and remediation work, while progressing the school model.
The development will advance in phases, with initial work commencing to the north of the development, where the coal yards resided. The remediation work will start in May and is projected to complete in the winter of 2022. Infrastructure will begin in the autumn with housing parcels following remediation.
The wider Rugeley masterplan includes more than 12 acres of employment space and a new country park alongside the River Trent. ENGIE has incorporated significant local commitments as part of the Section 106 agreement, including the delivery of a new neighbourhood centre and dentist facility.
Additionally, the company is in communication to see how it can support and enhance amenities for a number of locally loved fixtures including the model railway, local allotments and the canal.
Colin Macpherson, Divisional CEO for ENGIE UK & Ireland, said: “We have been in positive and productive communication with all the relevant local authorities and local residents for many years now; as we pushed to drive forward with a powerful proposal that would enrich the local area and inject new homes, jobs and opportunities after the closure of the power station.
“We’re delighted to now be in a position where we can start to deliver on this ground-breaking development and look forward to continue working closely with the local authorities and the John Taylor Multi Academy Trust (JTMAT) as the scheme develops.”
Bob Kean, Interim Managing Director for Cannock Chase Council commented: “As we recover from the pandemic the development of the former power station site becomes hugely significant for us. It is one of our main economic objectives in our new corporate plan and will help us realise our ambition to be a carbon neutral District by 2030.
“We have been impressed by the way ENGIE has progressed its exciting vision. It is good to see that this is now starting to be delivered ‘on the ground’.”
Diane Tilly, Chief Executive of Lichfield District Council said: “It’s really encouraging to see the progress being made with this important project. Much effort has been put in to ensuring a good outcome for this strategic development site from all involved and to date we are very pleased with the approach that ENGIE are taking towards its future sustainability and low carbon impact and the opportunities that it will bring to the area.”
Staffordshire County Council’s Director for Economy, Infrastructure and Skills Darryl Eyers said: “Now outline planning permission has been granted for the Rugeley power station site redevelopment we can look forward to the project moving forward in the coming months. This is an exciting development for Rugeley, Staffordshire and the region and a great example of how the private sector is working with local government to help achieve a lower carbon future.”
The cooling towers at the Power Station are due to be demolished on 6th June 2021, which will mark a key milestone in the transition into the start of the redevelopment.
