Transformative plans for Fiddler’s Ferry power station have been drawn up by a new eco-friendly investor.
Peel NRE, which bought the plot of land in Warrington, has set out its transformative "masterplan" for the brownfield site which is the size of 410 football pitches. The green company intends to demolish the landmark power plant and replace it with new wildlife areas, parkland and housing.
Fiddler's Ferry and its eight cooling towers were decommissioned in 2022 in line with Government policy to phase out coal-fired facilities by 2025. The coal fired power plant dominated the Widnes skyline for 50 years and employed 158 workers the year before it was closed down.
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Peel NRE, part of regeneration business Peel L&P, acquired the Warrington site from energy company SSE Therma. The project will be delivered in partnership with homebuilder Northstone and UK logistics development business PLP.
The business also promised to secure "much-needed" future investment for Warrington after the change in ownership. The site, which also includes agricultural land, was identified in the 2021 version of the Warrington Local Plan for the development of around 250-acres for employment use and a minimum of 1,760 new homes.
Kieran Tames, Development Director for Peel NRE said: “Fiddler’s Ferry power station has been a local landmark and part of the community for many years but as the UK moves away from the use of fossil fuels for energy generation, the site was recently decommissioned by SSE.
“We now want to work with local people to develop exciting new plans and mark a new era for the site that best respects its history and meets the future economic, social and environmental ambitions of Warrington, the neighbouring district of Halton and their communities.
“As echoed in the draft local plan, employment, housing, parkland and wildlife areas are a key part of this and with decades of experience regenerating towns and cities across the UK, we are confident that we can bring forward proposals that build on the strengths of both areas and create new exciting communities with more jobs, better homes and facilities, and open space to help improve lives.
“We have a significant track record in regenerating redundant heavy industrial sites and we are keen to continue investing in more opportunities like this and work with partners to support local and regional economies.”
Peel NRE will also help to oversee the land remediation of the site and will be in touch with the community as plans progress.
John Johnson, Director of Development for SSE Thermal, said: “Fiddler’s Ferry was a major contributor to our energy system for decades, but as we power past coal the decision was made to close the site in 2019. As custodians of the site for more than 15 years, we know how much it means to the local community and during the sale process we wanted to find a buyer who would ensure the site continued to play a vital role moving forward.
“In Peel NRE, we are passing the baton to a developer with ambitious plans to regenerate Fiddler’s Ferry, providing new economic opportunities for the local community, and we look forward to seeing those plans progress in the years ahead.”
Peel NRE’s parent company has been behind projects in the North West including The Trafford Centre, MediaCity at Salford Quays and Liverpool Waters.
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