Business leaders and members of the public are being invited to comment on future plans for the Ratcliffe on Soar power station site in south Nottinghamshire.
The power station, close to East Midlands Parkway railway station on the Midland Mainline and the Leicestershire border, is due to be decommissioned at the end of September 2024 in line with government policy to end coal-fired power generation.
The 654 acre site, which is cut in half by the A453, is linked to the new freeport which was recently set up and includes East Midlands Airport. It is hoped the low tax nature of the freeport will encourage businesses to move there.
Until recently it had been in the running as a potential site for the first commercial fusion energy plant in the world, however it was dropped because of what the Government called a land availability issue.
Despite that it has the potential for green energy through wind generation and solar power, battery production and energy storage, advanced manufacturing and logistics, research and development, offices, shops and maybe a data centre.
The power station is owned by international energy company Uniper and draft plans have now been finalised by Rushcliffe Borough Council that could give the green light to the new industrial and business use and the potential of thousands of highly-skilled jobs at the site.
The council now wants to hear views on its latest proposals by Monday, September 5 via its website or two public events — the first from 3-7pm on August 16 at Thrumpton Village Hall and the second from 3-7pm on August 18 at Gotham Memorial Hall.
If a local development order (LDO) is agreed, the council would be able to grant planning permission for a range of industrial uses on the redeveloped site.
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A design guide and masterplan for the site has been prepared to support the redevelopment, which will guide growth and development over the coming years.
The council’s vision for the site includes:
A zero-carbon technology and energy hub for the East Midlands
Highly skilled jobs
Modern industry and business uses, served by on-site sustainable energy generation and storage
Advanced manufacturing, for example to produce electric car batteries
A hub for research, development, and innovation, through links with universities, business support organisations and established industry.
Rushcliffe Borough Council leader Coun Simon Robinson said: “The power station will close at the end of September 2024 in line with government policy to end coal-fired power generation and an LDO could secure its long-term future for it to remain a site of local, regional and national importance.
“Many power station sites often remain vacant for years after they have closed and the Council is therefore taking this proactive approach to assist maximising its potential.
“With HS2 at the adjacent East Midlands Parkway also set to arrive in the future, it’s important to positively shape the future of the site and the LDO could deliver a major part of its future.”
Uniper is exploring options for the site and received planning permission for a waste incinerator there, which would be called the East Midlands Energy Re-Generation (EMERGE) Centre.
The centre will use technology to convert waste left over from the recycling process into useable lower carbon energy – enough to power 90,000 homes.