Fiddler’s Ferry power station cooling towers will be demolished to make way for new homes and businesses after dominating the skyline for more than 50 years. Tony McDonough
Having dominated the skyline for more than half a century four of the eight giant cooling towers at Fiddler’s Ferry power station will soon disappear.
In 1971 the coal-fired power station generated its first electricity. It was closed in March 2020 as part of the phasing out of coal amid the threat of climate change. In July LBN reported the site was now earmarked for new homes and businesses.
Peel NRE, a division of property firm Peel L&P, acquired the 820-acre site in July from energy firm SSE. Now it has submitted plans to Warrington Council to demolish the famous tower. This will pave the way for the building of at least 1,760 new homes and 250 acres of new business space. They are part of a 15-year masterplan.
Its eight cooling towers are among the most prominent landmarks in the North West. Each cooling tower is 374ft high with a chimney rising to 660ft. The facility is visible from as far away as the Peak District.
Peel NRE’s first phases of development at the northern part of the Widnes Road site which will include the demolition of the four northern cooling towers. Nearby admin buildings will also come down the former coal stockyard and machinery will be cleared.
Plans will also see the creation of new parkland and wildlife areas in partnership with Peel L&P’s homebuilder Northstone.
Controlled demolition techniques will be carried out to demolish the concrete cooling towers. As much material as possible from the first phase demolition will be re-used on the site as engineering material for the re-development of the site.
If approved, the demolition is expected to start later this year and take up to a year to complete.
Tames, development director for Peel NRE, said: “The submission of these plans takes us a step closer to starting work to regenerate the former power station site and secure future investment for Warrington, Halton and the wider region.
“First phase of demolition will take place at the northern part of the site. We will be working with contractors and the community to ensure this is carefully planned and managed to the highest safety and environmental standards.
“We recognise that the demolition programme will be of significant interest to many local people. Residents will be kept informed throughout the process. A public consultation on the first phase of our proposed development will also be taking place later in the year.”
For more information about Peel NRE or the plans, visit www.fiddlersferry.com