Decision time for Rugeley Power Station site plans
A decision is set to be made next week on a masterplan to transform Rugeley Power Station into 2,300 homes, housing for the elderly, commercial buildings and a primary school.
Planning bosses at Lichfield District Council will consider the plans on Monday, and Cannock Chase Council will discuss the plans on Wednesday, with officers for both recommending approval subject to conditions ahead of the meetings.
The news comes after the first stages of the demolition of the former power station have taken place, while the other main structures, including boiler house, chimney and cooling towers are scheduled for controlled collapse through 2020 and the complete demolition of the site is expected in 2021.
A report going to Cannock Chase Council's meeting says: "The application proposes a residential-led sustainable extension to Rugeley.
"The development proposed is considered to be sustainably located with good access to public transport and day to day facilities, which could be further improved as part of the development.
"When considering the extent of the benefits associated with the proposals versus the identified conflicts or harms above, officers consider the planning balance weighs substantially in favour of the development."
A report going to Lichfield District Council's meeting says: "Environmentally, the site occupies a location where any landscape harm will be localised.
"It is considered that adequate, high quality public open space will be provided on site, to meet the needs of future and existing residents, whilst replacement and enhanced sports provision will be provided on site to ensure the health and well-being of existing and future residents.
"The number of dwellings and mix proposed, will provide a suitable density of development to integrate into the character of the area, whilst also helping to meet the housing needs of the district.
"The development will cause less than substantial harm to the setting of nearby listed buildings and non-designated heritage assets, with the degree of harm likely to be further lessened through the application of an appropriate landscaping scheme."
Plans were announced for a mixed-use development at the end of 2018 - transforming the site into an entirely new sustainable and smart community.
Rugeley A power station opened in 1961 while Rugeley B power station, which provided enough electricity to power around half a million homes, followed nine years later.
There were plans to convert the power station to run on biomass fuel in 2012 but they were never carried out.
The station eventually closed in June 2016 when 120 jobs were lost.
The plans say that construction is estimated to begin this year and to carry on until 2040.
