Fiddler’s Ferry demolition plans lodged
Site owner Peel NRE wants to take down the Warrington power station to build 4m sq ft of industrial space and more than 1,500 homes.
The coal-fired Fiddler’s Ferry Power Station was decommissioned in 2020. Its site, which comes in at 820 acres and includes agricultural land, was purchased by Peel NRE in July. Peel NRE is a natural resources and energy company owned by Peel L&P.
Now, Peel has submitted its plans to Warrington Council for the demolition of the power station’s four northern cooling towers and administration buildings. Peel also wants to clear the former coal stockyard and machinery. The entire demolition process, which will be carried out in phases, is anticipated to complete in 2025 or 2026.
Material salvaged from the demolition will be reused as engineering material for Peel’s 10- to 15-year masterplan for the site.
These plans will pull from the 2021 Warrington Local Plan. Within that document, Fiddler’s Ferry is allocated for around 250 acres of employment use and a minimum of 1,760 homes. Peel also aims to create parkland and wildlife areas on the site.
Housing, industrial property and parkland will be part of the future of the site. Credit: Peel NRE
Peel NRE development director Kieran Tames described how demolition was crucial to regenerating the Fiddler’s Ferry site.
Tames 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 including new family homes, improved facilities and more jobs.
“The first phase of demolition will take place at the northern part of the site, and we will be working with contractors and the community to ensure this is carefully planned and managed to the highest safety and environmental standards,” he continued.
Tames went on to say that a public consultation on the first phase of the masterplan will be taking place later this year.
My father helped build this place now it’s in the hands of Peel Do Nothing ever.
He would turn in his grave.
By Eric
No mention of a new primary or high school? Where will all these extra children go to school? Local schools already full!!
By Sue
Most insulting that this is happening right in the middle of an energy crisis. The local council and OFGEM could do a lot for the country turning this station back on to help lower energy prices, but no, retail executives get the final say I guess…
By Anonymous
Strange how Warrington is one of the biggest growing Towns in the last 20 years in the UK yet the infrastructure cannot cope, we need a new hospital which would relieve the pressure on Warrington General. 7.5 hours in Accident and emergency with internal bleeding is absolutely horrendous, the NHS is struggling to cope.
By DEE GEE