Pledges made over power station future

A meeting recently took place between the Leader of Shropshire Council, Peter Nutting, and Telford & Wrekin Council ward Member for the Ironbridge Gorge Nicola Lowery, to discuss the future of the former power station.

Set in Buildwas, it is within Shropshire Council, but has a major impact on Ironbridge, within Telford & Wrekin Council .

Since the power stations ceased generation in November 2015, the site has received significant national and local interest.

The meeting was arranged to discuss the future of the site, given the reassurance from both council’s to ensure a responsible use that benefits the wider region.

A number of areas were discussed within the meeting regarding Uniper’s prior approval application, the demolition of the site and its future use.

Councillor Peter Nutting said:  “Shropshire Council has included the former Ironbridge Power Station within our Economic Growth Strategy for 2017 to 2021, demonstrating our commitment to securing a prosperous future use and to ensure we continue to work closely with key stakeholders and capitalise on the opportunities arising from the redevelopment of this site.

"It was extremely beneficial to meet with Councillor Lowery to discuss the future of this former power station, better explore its potential and how we as members can work together to ensure the best outcome for this important site.

"This includes looking at a possibility of a supplementary planning document to ensure there is a planning framework in place to provide guidance for future development”.

Councillor Lowery added: “It was fantastic to meet with the leader of Shropshire Council to discuss the vision for the site and to explore the proposal of a supplementary planning document.

"This would assist in ensuring that the potential of the site is better understood by developers and will ensure a proactive approach to planning guidance, to inform any future development of the many opportunities that exist within the site, once a buyer is identified.

"Given the scale, complexity and diversity of this site it is important that we consider a framework to inform the master planning process.

"I was greatly encouraged to hear that Shropshire are equally in support of ensuring a considered and appropriate development that utilises and builds on the opportunities that exist within this strategic site and its inclusion within the Shropshire Council’s economic growth strategy.

“The meeting with Councillor Nutting was extremely beneficial and look forward to continuing to work closely both with Shropshire Council and Telford & Wrekin Council to ensure we achieve an exemplary development for this site.

"I have always maintained my support of a heritage rail link into the site and it was fantastic to discuss these wider proposals to maintain and safeguard the rail infrastructure with the leader of Shropshire Council in addition to the importance of considering the social, physical and economic infrastructure that will be required as part of any proposals that come forward."

Uniper, the owners of Ironbridge Power Station in Buildwas, have made a submission to Shropshire Council for prior approval to clear the site.

Full demolition of the main power station site is set to begin in Spring 2018 and will include the removal of all the buildings that have come to the end of their operational life.

The work is expected to take about 36 months and it is anticipated that the site's iconic pink cooling towers will be demolished using controlled detonation.

The power station has been shut since November 2015 and earlier this year, the 141-hectare site was put up for sale.

Property experts Cushman and Wakefield are handling the sale process on behalf of Uniper. The plant was officially switched off on November 20, 2015, after 46 years of service, following an EU directive.

Under the EU, ageing plants like Ironbridge were legally limited in the emissions they can produce and its operating hours were restricted in 2008.

The EU’s Large Combustion Plant Directive said the station had to end its life after passing the milestone of generating power for a total of 20,000 hours since January 1, 2008,