Month: February 2021

At approximately 2.30p.m. on 4th March 2021, a test blast using explosives will be carried out on one of the four Cooling Towers. The test blast is used to establish the correct explosive charging requirements for their demolition.

To protect everyone on site and in the local area an exclusion zone will be in place before, during and immediately after the test blast. The exclusion zone is well within the power station boundary fence and there will be no public access to the area or impact on the local road network.

There will be a small amount of debris from the blast but no structure will be demolished. Although the explosive detonation may be heard off site, any noise will be over very quickly and there will be nothing visible outside the perimeter fence.

All the Cooling Towers are scheduled for explosive demolition later this year and further details will be provided nearer the time. The demolition of the site is expected to be completed in 2021.

For more information a Frequently Asked Questions document is available here.

For enquiries please contact CommunicationsUK@engie.com

An all-through school which is proposed to be built on ENGIE’s former Rugeley Power Station site has been granted funding through the Department for Education’s (DfE) free school programme.

The school, which will serve Rugeley and the surrounding areas, as well as the future community on the Rugeley Power Station site, will be run by the John Taylor Multi Academy Trust (JTMAT). The educational facilities are due to open in September 2023 and will eventually accommodate 1,400 pupils, plus a nursery.

The funding was granted through Wave 14 of the DfE programme after a JTMAT application demonstrated the significant benefits the investment would bring to Rugeley.  

The school forms part of ENGIE’s development of 2,300-homes and up to 12.36 acres of employment space, which received outline planning approval earlier this year.

Mark Dolling, Director – Education & Public Sector Capital Programmes at ENGIE UK & Ireland, said:

“ENGIE is delighted to be working with JTMAT and other stakeholders in leading the design and delivery of this new school. This is an extremely exciting project for all involved – we are not only providing a new, highly sustainable school that will sit at the heart of a new low carbon community; but we are paving the way for the education sector more broadly.  Schools can play an integral part in leading the transition to zero carbon and this new school, alongside the wider development, will offer a sustainable place for people to live, work and learn.  We passionately believe the scheme will act as an exemplar in placemaking.”

JTMAT CEO, Mike Donoghue said:

“We are naturally excited and extremely proud to have been given the responsibility to lead the new school at Rugeley.  With a growing Trust that currently comprises many local good and outstanding primary and secondary schools, and a track record of successfully delivering a large Free School, we felt that we were well-placed to offer an exciting, high quality, and innovative offer to the children and families in the area.  Focused on Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) from nursery through to Sixth Form, we will do all that we can to make this school outstanding and stand out. I’m delighted that, after a rigorous application and interview process, the selection panel agreed.  

“Now the work begins in earnest to fulfil our vision to create the best school we possibly can.  The application was very much a team effort, and so will be our work to deliver the school to the community. We look forward to working alongside our partner organisations to make all this happen.  We couldn’t be more thrilled.”