The UK’s last remaining coal-fired power station, Ratcliffe-on-Soar, will close down for good in two weeks, marking the end of its more-than 50 years of operation.
The site will close on 30 September and the two-year decommissioning process will begin immediately after.
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Ratcliffe-on-Soar’s buildings, cooling towers and other structures will be decommissioned and demolished, making the site and surrounding land suitable to be redeveloped as a zero-carbon technology and energy hub for the East Midlands.
Arup, working with Uniper, the site owner, supported Rushcliffe Borough Council to establish a Local Development Order (LDO) to make the most out of the potential development opportunities of the site.
“Arup recognises the strategic importance of redeveloping the Ratcliffe-on-Soar power station site in the UK’s move towards reaching net zero targets,” Arup director Richard Bickers said.
“We’re delighted our work with Uniper on the masterplan, and resulting successful LDO, means the site is now primed for positive transformation.”
Since the closure of Kilroot Power Station in September 2023, Ratcliffe-on-Soar is the only coal-fired power station left in the United Kingdom.
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In January 2024, all four of its generating units had to be run together for the final time in response to high demand from cold weather.
In April 2024, one unit was placed into “preservation” mode, in advance of plant shutdown, and in June 2024, what was expected to be the last train of coal was delivered for burning at the power station.
