MP calls for more employment land at Rugeley Power Station

Amanda Milling, MP for Cannock Chase, welcomed the plans for the development, but told planning bosses that some of the land earmarked for the 2,300 houses should be used for employment units.

The plan to transform Rugeley Power Station into 2,300 homes was submitted to Lichfield District Council and Cannock Chase Council earlier this year. The outline application also consists of 1.2 ha of mixed-use buildings, five ha of employment land, a primary school, open space and key infrastructure.

In a letter to Cannock Chase Council, Ms Milling welcomed the work owners ENGIE has undertaken to understand Rugeley and consult with the community.

She says: "Firstly I would like to welcome ENGIE's commitment to retaining ownership and redeveloping the site.

"I also welcome the extensive work that ENGIE, in conjunction with JTP, has undertaken to understand Rugeley and consult with the local community during the course of developing their plans.

"Since the power station closed in 2016 I have consistently argued for an ambitious, bold and visionary plan for the redevelopment of the site.

"This is a large strategic site both to the district as well as the West Midlands region, with excellent connectivity to the National Grid, rail infrastructure and fibre optic broadband.

"The redevelopment has the potential to add significant economic value to the Rugeley area, Staffordshire and, more broadly, the West Midlands.

"As I states in my response to the 2017 consultation, I support that the site does need to be a mixed development, providing employment, housing, leisure, local retail, and education provision.

"As such, I broadly support the vision that has been developed. That said, I believe that as the plans currently stand too much of the site has been allocated for housing, and too little for employment land."

Ms Milling also called for improvements to the transport infrastructure and for a secondary school to be included in the plans.

Three demolitions have taken place at the site so far this year, with the other main structures, including boiler house, chimney and cooling towers are scheduled for controlled collapse through the remainder of 2019 and 2020.

The complete demolition of the site is expected in 2021.