First phase plans for Fiddlers Ferry power station redevelopment unveiled

Plans for the first phase of redevelopment at the former Fiddlers Ferry power station in Warrington have been unveiled.

Peel NRE acquired the decommissioned coal-fired power station in July and is consulting on proposals to demolish and develop the initial 90 acres of the brownfield site to make way for 1.35 million sq ft of employment space across four units.

The redevelopment will unlock more than 2,100 jobs and address a long term shortage of modern employment space in the area.

It will be worth £126m per year to the local economy when complete and will create 452 construction jobs each year across the four-year build programme.

It will initially require the demolition of the coal stockyard and associated buildings which Peel NRE applied to Warrington Council for in September 2022. The demolition of the northern cooling towers will happen later next year.

Peel NRE’s plans for Fiddlers Ferry are being developed in line with the 2021 Warrington Local Plan which identifies the development of around 250-acres for employment use and a minimum of 1,760 new homes at the Widnes Road site.

Peel NRE’s 10- to 15-year mixed-use masterplan for the 820-acre site includes the demolition of the former power station to create industrial and logistics space to help boost jobs and a new sustainable community delivered in partnership with Peel L&P’s homebuilder, Northstone, to help meet local housing demand.

Future plans will also include restoration of ash lagoons as extensive new parkland and wildlife areas to enhance recreation and the environment.

A development framework is being prepared to set out the main principles of what will be delivered at the site, and a wider masterplan, will be consulted on early next year.

Kieran Tames, development director for Peel NRE, part of Manchester-based regeneration business Peel L&P, said: “We recognise the importance the former power station has had in the area for over the past 50 years, and we want to invite local people to have their say on securing the future development of the site.

“Our regeneration plans for Fiddler s Ferry will create new opportunities for investment, jobs and family housing for Warrington, Widnes, Halton and surrounding communities.

“Our masterplan will create over 2,100 jobs and this first phase addresses a chronic shortage of modern employment space in Warrington and Widnes and will reduce the need for people to travel longer distances to work by helping companies to invest locally. We will also work with bus operators to improve transport to the development.”

He added: “Since we acquired the site earlier this year we have been speaking extensively with key stakeholders across the region and we are looking forward to hearing initial feedback on our phase one plans from the local community.”

Initial demolition work is expected to start early next year. As many materials as possible from the first phase demolition will be recycled and reused for the development of the site.

Fiddlers Ferry Power Station was formerly owned by SSE Thermal and was decommissioned in 2020.

The public consultation runs from November 14, until December 11, 2022.

Public exhibitions will be held from 3-8pm on November 22, at Warrington Town Sports & Social Club and on November 28, at Karalius Suite, CBL Stadium.

Virtual drop ins will be also held on November 29 and 30, and can be booked online.