Closure & Redevelopment News

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.”

Members of the public can view this Sunday’s blowdown of the Main Chimney on the ENGIE Group YouTube channel.

To watch the live event on YouTube click here.

Due to current COVID-19 national lockdown restrictions unfortunately there is no physical viewing area and members of the public should not travel to site. The police will be in attendance and have asked that people consider the latest “Stay Home” COVID-19 restrictions as these will be enforced.

At approximately 8am on 24^th January 2021, a controlled collapse demolition event using explosives will take place at Rugeley Power Station which will bring down the main Chimney (pictured outlined in red below).

The structure is predominantly concrete and approximately 183m high. To protect everyone on site and in the local area an exclusion zone will be in place before, during and immediately after the collapse. Because of the height of the structure the exclusion zone will extend onto the A51 so a road closure, with clearly marked diversion, will be in place for a few hours. This has been planned with the local authorities to minimise potential disruption.

The initiation and collapse may be heard off site, any noise will be over very quickly, and any dust will be controlled with road sweepers.

Due to current COVID-19 national lockdown restrictions unfortunately there is no public viewing area. A livestream will be made available so members of the public can safely view the event – details will be made available on the www.rugeleypower.com website over the coming days. The police will be in attendance and have asked that people consider the latest “Stay Home” COVID-19 restrictions as these will be enforced.

The other structures, including Cooling Towers are scheduled for demolition at a later date this year.

For more information a frequently asked questions document is available here.

For enquiries please contact CommunicationsUK@engie.com

At approximately 10 a.m. on 10^th December 2020, the controlled demolition of ductwork around the main chimney will take place at Rugeley Power Station.  The ductwork removal is necessary to enable the safe demolition of the chimney structure, which will take place at a later date.

The ductwork is made of steel and is approximately 8m in diameter and currently 30m from the ground. Although the initiation and collapse may be heard outside of the boundary fence, any noise will be over very quickly.  Any dust generated will be controlled on site and road sweepers will be available although it is anticipated that they will not be required.

To protect everyone on site and in the local area an exclusion zone will be in place before, during and immediately after the 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.

The remaining structures, including the Chimney and the four Cooling Towers, are scheduled for explosive demolition in 2021 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

At approximately 1p.m. on 21 October 2020, a test blast using explosives will be carried out on the 183m chimney. The test blast is used to establish the correct explosive charging requirements for its 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.
The remaining structures, including this Chimney and the four Cooling Towers, are scheduled for explosive demolition at a later date 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

As part of the preparatory work for the demolition of the main Rugeley Power Station chimney, the aircraft warning lights have now been disconnected. A formal notification to the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) was made and the authority has issued a NOTAM which informs aircraft of the existence of an unlit structure.

For enquiries please contact CommunicationsUK@engie.com

At approximately 10am on 20^th August 2020, the sixth controlled collapse demolition event using explosives will take place at Rugeley Power Station.  The collapse will bring down the Boiler House (pictured outlined in red below).

The structure is predominantly steel and approximately 73m high. The Boiler House is not close to the perimeter fence and there is no public viewing area.

To protect everyone on site and in the local area an exclusion zone will be in place before, during and immediately after the collapse. 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.

Demolition of this section of the power station is considered to be low impact.  Although the initiation and collapse may be heard off site, any noise will be over very quickly.

The other main structures, including Chimney and Cooling Towers, are scheduled for explosive demolition at a later date 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 amendment to the Outline Planning Application for the mixed-use redevelopment of the Rugeley Power Station site has been submitted to the two local authorities Lichfield District Council (LDC) and Cannock Chase District Council (CCDC). The amendment allows for the inclusion of either an on-site ‘All-Through School’ or a Primary School (as previously detailed on the Outline Planning Application).

The Outline Planning Application received a resolution to grant by the two authorities in January 2020, subject to planning conditions and completion of a Section 106 Agreement (and Unilateral Undertaking). The amendments, which include a full Environmental Statement, will now undergo a consultation and assessment led by the LDC and CCDC planning teams.

A selection of the key documents which have been submitted to LDC and CCDC planning teams are available below. All documents associated with the amendment will be made available on the websites of both local authorities where members of the public will be able to comment on the proposals. All planning documentation is also available in electronic format on request from communicationsuk@engie.com

Links to local authority planning portals

Lichfield District Council  – https://planning.lichfielddc.gov.uk/online-applications/search.do?action=simple

Cannock Chase District Council – https://www.cannockchasedc.gov.uk/residents/planning-building/development-control/10-view-planning-applications-and-make-comments

Key documents submitted to LDC and CCDC

Covering letter

Parameter Plan – Access

Parameter Plan – Building Heights

Parameter Plan – Green Infrastructure

Parameter Plan – Land Use

Parameter Plan – Residential Density

Illustrative Masterplan [compressed]

At approximately 10am on 13^th February 2020, the fifth controlled collapse demolition event using explosives will take place at Rugeley Power Station.  The collapse will bring down the Bunker Bay (pictured outlined in red below).

The structure is predominantly steel and approximately 45m high. The Bunker Bay is not close to the perimeter fence and hence not easily visible from offsite.

To protect everyone on site and in the local area an exclusion zone will be in place before, during and immediately after the collapse. 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.

Demolition of this section of the power station is considered to be low impact.  Although the initiation and collapse may be heard off site, any noise will be over very quickly.

The other main structures, including the rest of the Boiler House, Chimney and Cooling Towers are scheduled for controlled collapse in 2020. The complete demolition of the site is expected in 2021.

For more information a frequently asked questions document is available here.

For enquiries please contact CommunicationsUK@engie.com

At approximately 10am on 28th November 2019, the fourth controlled collapse demolition event using explosives will take place at Rugeley Power Station. The collapse will bring down the Turbine Hall and Deaerator (DA) Bay (pictured outlined in red below).

The structures are predominantly steel with the Turbine Hall 30m and the DA Bay 73m high. Both structures are away from the main gate and barely visible from offsite.

To protect everyone on site and in the local area an exclusion zone will be in place before, during and immediately after the collapse. 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.

Demolition of this section of the power station is considered to be low impact.  Although the initiation and collapse may be heard off site, any noise will be over very quickly.

The other main structures, including the rest of the Boiler House, Chimney and Cooling Towers are scheduled for controlled collapse in 2020. The complete demolition of the site is expected in 2021.

For more information a frequently asked questions document is available here.

For enquiries please contact CommunicationsUK@engie.com