All we know on Fiddler’s Ferry future year after cooling towers demo

The Cuerdley power station began operations in 1971 and was fully commissioned by 1973, operating for nearly 50 years before it was decommissioned in March 2020.

The land was acquired by Peel NRE in July 2022, with the firm behind plans to regenerate the site, which has been earmarked for housing and industrial use following demolition work.

Phase one of the demolition process was approved early last year – and this included the demolition of four of the site’s eight cooling towers.

This was carried out on December 3 last year, with hundreds if not thousands of people getting up early in the morning to witness the historic event.

Thousands more watched on internet live streams of the demolition, which occurred just before 9.35am.

However, the blowdown was more for the ears than the eyes, with thick mist that winter morning ensuring that only those workers in very close proximity to the site saw anything.

The rest of us heard a short siren before the pop of dynamite and the crash of the structures hitting the ground.

The explosion could be heard across Warrington, Widnes, Runcorn and St Helens, with even people in Greater Manchester hearing the big bangs.

In the year that has passed, progress reports on the site have been few and far between.

Plans were approved this year for more demolition activity

In June, Peel NRE was granted permission by Warrington Borough Council to begin phase two of the Fiddler’s Ferry demolition.

Plans to include new school and shops

In planning documents, it said: “As one of the largest brownfield sites in the region, Fiddler’s Ferry is allocated for mixed-use re-development in the Warrington Local Plan.

“The Local Plan supports the redevelopment of the site for the delivery of approximately 101 hectares of employment land over the plan period, as well as a minimum of 860 new homes.

“Plus, a new primary school, shops, community facilities, land for a potential GP surgery, public open space, an extensive green infrastructure network, transport improvements, ecological mitigation and flood mitigation and drainage.

“In order to facilitate the future redevelopment of Fiddler’s Ferry, it will be necessary to demolish the majority of the existing buildings and structures associated with the former power station.

“Peel NRE is demolishing the former power station in a phased manner. Warrington Borough Council granted prior approval for the first phase of demolition in June 2023.

“Phase one comprises the coal stockyard facility, including conveyor systems, plant control and maintenance buildings, the northern cooling towers and admin complex, including offices, canteen, changing rooms and the medical centre, the laboratory and former workshops and stores.

“Phase-one demolition commenced in summer 2023 and is now well advanced. The northern cooling towers were demolished by way of explosive blowdown on December 3, 2023.

“The proposed works include decommissioning, asbestos removal, plant removal, demolition of all buildings and structures down to ground level and cleaning.

The structures in red form part of phase two demolition, with the green buildings to be demolished at a later date

“The demolition works will be undertaken by an experienced demolition contractor and will be in accordance with best practice.”

The documents added that the proposed start date for Fiddler’s Ferry power station phase-two demolition works is anticipated to be during quarter two of 2024.

They went on to say that the duration of on-site works was estimated to take a minimum of 18 months, however this was to be confirmed on the appointment of the principal contractor.

Documents went on to say: “For the avoidance of doubt, the phase-two demolition works exclude the demolition of the southern cooling towers, main power station chimney stack and the gas turbine building exhaust stack.

“These will be retained in the short-term and form a later phase of demolition, subject to a separate application.”

The most recent update was in September when the council’s cabinet agreed a Fiddlers Ferry development framework.

Council leader Cllr Hans Mundry described Fiddlers Ferry as an ‘interesting’ site, and said it will be ‘good for people to move into it when it’s up and running’.

Until plans are submitted for a third demolition phase, then the remaining four cooling towers look set to stay for now.

With the national need for housing and ever-increasing demand for industrial development, 2025 looks to be a key year for the Fiddler's Ferry redevelopment project.