John F Hunt Regeneration commenced the remediation and enabling of Rugeley Power Station in Staffordshire for site operator EQUANS part of the ENGIE group in May.
The site is one of the largest brownfield projects in the UK measuring 1.5 miles in length. Works on the 139-hectare area are expected to continue for 2 years, with the final demolition works completed by the client in early June 2021.
Rugeley ‘B’ Power Station was purchased by ENGIE in 2011. In 2015 the Government announced that coal generated electricity production would end in 2025; as a result, ENGIE announced that the operation would close and in June 2016 power production ceased.
Planning permission from Cannock Chase District Council was gained in April 2021 for 2,300 low-carbon homes, with employment units, a country park, school, community centre and medical facilities.
Of key importance to the overall project is the design and execution of a large-scale earthworks by John F hunt to create the numerous development platforms required.
Dr Samuel Hall, John F Hunt Regeneration’s MD said, “We will complete a programme of focused contamination remediation works plus the excavation, improvement and reuse of site-gained materials, such as concrete from the station buildings and Pulverised Fuel Ash, or PFA.”
He continued “The two main areas of earthworks relate to the former coal yard and PFA lagoons. These two locations are approximately 1 mile apart, so using the existing road network on site, a specific haulage road has been created to enable efficient material movement on articulated trucks, without interfering with remediation operations.
In addition, work is underway to prepare a development platform for the recently announced location of an All Through School in the centre of the site, to allow construction to commence by the end of 2021.
To support delivery of this complex project, a significant financial investment into additional plant by the John F Hunt Group, was completed in June this year.”
This is a major transformative plan for the region and an important flag in the ground for Regeneration in the Midlands.
John F Hunt Regeneration’s CEO, Ben Williams said “We are extremely proud to have been entrusted by EQUANS to deliver this substantial project, providing a greener space for better living and look forward to providing additional services as the scheme develops.”