The formal consultation for Phase 1 closed on 11th December 2022, but your feedback is still welcome. Click the button below to learn more and have your say:
The redevelopment of Fiddler’s Ferry is a once in a generation opportunity to deliver significant new jobs and homes on one of the largest brownfield sites in the region.
Peel NRE’s purchase of the Fiddler’s Ferry site from SSE is the first step towards transforming the disused former power station into a sustainable development, offering new jobs and high quality family homes for local people.
About Peel NRE – Re-energising Natural Resources
Peel NRE, part of regeneration business Peel L&P, is at the heart of the nation’s activity around clean growth and a circular economy – helping the UK achieve net zero by 2050 and supporting regional climate emergency targets.
It reuses, repurposes and re-energises natural resources to develop and maintain vital infrastructure across the UK with specialisms in renewable energies, district heating, waste to value, water and materials management and electric vehicle charging.
Peel NRE’s track record also includes transforming redundant and heavy industrial sites to support local and regional aspirations and development needs for employment and housing.
Fiddler’s Ferry was a significant feature for the area for decades, which at its peak was producing 2,000MW of power and employed hundreds of workers. We want to hear your stories about the plant, whether you worked on site or lived nearby. Click below to share your memories.
RETURN TO HOME PAGE Date set for demolition of Fiddler’s Ferry’s northern cooling towers Sunday 3rd December 2023 is the date set for demolition contractor
RETURN TO HOME PAGE Plans to regenerate Fiddler’s Ferry and support over 2,100 jobs submitted to Warrington Borough Council Following public consultation with the local
RETURN TO HOME PAGE Plans submitted to kick start demolition works at Fiddler’s Ferry Plans have been submitted to commence demolition works at the Fiddler’s
RETURN TO HOME PAGE Iconic power station site will continue to be key part of Warrington’s economic future The site of an iconic power station
The former power station is a considerable site which will require extensive demolition before redevelopment can begin in earnest. The timeline below shows the possible length of the process, with the site not likely to be completed until at least 2040.
Commencement of phased demolition
Commencement of infrastructure, enabling works and remediation
Demolition complete
Phased development programme and masterplan complete
2022
2023/4
2025/6
2040
The site features in the emerging Warrington Local Plan and illustrative images have been produced to show what the area could look like once the redevelopment has been completed. This is subject to change based on future needs and planning applications. We want to work with the communities around Fiddler’s Ferry to shape a development that is considerate to the needs of both existing and new residents.
The proposals will eventually see the demolition of the power station buildings and its eight cooling towers, which is located near the River Mersey in between Warrington and Halton.
The first stage of demolition includes the phased demolition of the coal stock yard, four northern cooling towers and some of the former administrative buildings to the north of the site.
The current plan is for the northern four towers to be demolished on Sunday 3rd December 2023, though this is still subject to change and exact timings for the day are still to be determined.
For safety reasons, there are no plans to have a specific viewing area near the site. However, we do appreciate that many may want to watch the towers coming down. If that is the case, then we would suggest that locations further away from Fiddler’s Ferry will be best suited for this as there will be an exclusion zone in place blocking access near the site.
When the demolition of the towers goes ahead, the A562 will be temporarily closed from the Eight Towers roundabout to Marsh Lane. On South Lane (A5080) there may be a speed limit and other restrictions in place. It is expected that these temporary restrictions will be in place between 7am and 1pm on the day, and Peel NRE and the PP O’ Connor are working with local stakeholders to ensure that any disruption is minimised.
Subject to internet connectivity on site, there will also be a livestream of the demolition available so that you can watch the whole thing online. We will be sharing further details of this soon and we would recommend that you watch this for a better view of the demolition rather than coming to the site itself.
No, there will be no harm to the environment or wildlife and the works are being carried out in accordance with an Environmental Management Plan.
Our demolition contractors, PP O’ Connor, who will bring down the towers will do so with as little impact as possible. Given the nature of the works and size of the structures dust will be generated during the blown down, but measures have been put in place to limit the spread of the dust and mitigation measures are in place.
Following months of removal of all materials from the cooling towers with only the concrete shell remaining the four 115m-high concrete towers will be blown down using controlled explosive techniques by demolition experts at PP O’ Connor.
Local areas close to the site will hear it happening, but should not be affected by the noise, as it will be short-lived, and far enough away from anyone due to road closures and the perimeter being set up.
The site is owned by natural resources and energy company Peel NRE, part of regeneration business Peel L&P, after being recently acquired from energy company SSE Thermal.
Peel L&P is responsible for some of the country’s most transformational projects across the North West including The Trafford Centre, MediaCity at Salford Quays and Liverpool Waters.
Peel NRE’s track record also includes transforming redundant and heavy industrial sites to support local and regional aspirations and development needs for employment and housing.
The Fiddler’s Ferry power station and cooling towers were decommissioned in 2020 in line with Government policy to phase out coal-fired facilities by 2025.
Unfortunately, the site cannot be accessed by the public. Unauthorised access to the site is prohibited. A video tour of the site is available here.
Over the coming years, Peel NRE will work in partnership with Warrington Council on the regeneration of the 820-acre site through a 10 to 15-year mixed-use masterplan which will coordinate the regeneration of one of the largest brownfield sites in the country.
Our proposals identify the site as a new sustainable community to create jobs, boost skills, address local housing shortages including affordable homes and create new accessible parkland and wildlife areas. The Warrington Local Plan is currently under examination and we will continue to work closely with the council to develop our plans.
As part of redeveloping the entire site, we are preparing a Development Framework which will establish the principles and vision for the wider Fiddler’s Ferry site, and the context to the employment and housing delivery across a 10–15-year period. Preparation of a Development Framework is a requirement of the site policy within the draft Warrington Local Plan to ensure that the redevelopment of the site is comprehensive and that required infrastructure is delivered as the site is developed.
As part of the examination of the draft Warrington Local Plan, Warrington Council has suggested a modification to the policy which requires agreement of the Development Framework prior to the determination of the Phase 1 employment application and prior to the submission of planning applications for any further phases.
A draft of the Development Framework is currently being prepared. We will consult on this draft framework in 2023.
The current masterplan for the wider site has the capacity to deliver a minimum of 1,760 homes and c.101ha gross of employment land delivered over multiple phases.
This signals an exciting future for the site, securing future investment for Warrington’s economy and the wider region.
We are currently reviewing the Local Plan Inspector’s post-hearing comments on the draft Warrington Local Plan and considering what this may mean for the draft Development Framework and site masterplan.
The Fiddler’s Ferry site is a once-in-a generation opportunity to redevelop one of the largest brownfield sites in the country.
The proposals for the site will make a major contribution to job creation across the borough. The initial masterplanning work indicates that the redevelopment of the site could provide c. 4 million sq ft of floorspace to help meet future employment needs. The site also has the capacity to deliver a minimum of 1,760 homes, ranging in housing types with other community facilities such as a potential new primary school, local shops, space for a potential branch GP surgery, other community facilities, parks and open space.
The draft Development Framework document is currently being prepared.
Discussions with Warrington Borough Council and Halton Borough Council are ongoing, and consultation with the local community and other stakeholders on the draft Development Framework will take place in 2023.
The Phase 1 employment land is located on the former coal stockyard in the north western part of the former power station.
The Phase 1 employment proposals will deliver c. 1.35 million sq ft of new employment floorspace for general industry / storage and distribution uses.
The new employment buildings will provide significant employment opportunities for local people especially those in Warrington and Widnes.
This first phase of development will support approximately 452 construction jobs on average per year, adding £500,000 per annum of expenditure into the local economy. Local businesses in the local supply chain will benefit with additional jobs supported throughout the project.
Once the scheme is completed and occupied, up to an estimated 2,100 jobs will be supported by the businesses which occupy the space, delivering approximately £126m gross value added (GVA) to the local economy per annum.
Workers on site will also add £2.6m of expenditure to the local economy (shops, cafes etc) once the scheme is completed.
Subject to planning permission, it is anticipated that works will begin on site in January 2024.
It is anticipated that the Phase 1 works will be complete by 2030, with phased occupation of the units subject to market demand.
You can find out more about the Phase 1 proposals on the consultation website at https://my.engaged.space/fiddlersferry.
The proposals create a long-term future for the site and will be delivered in phases over a 10–15-year time period. Following demolition, and subject to planning, the commencement of infrastructure and enabling works will take place in 2023.
We envisage that there will be significant employment opportunities for local contractors and local people to be involved in the redevelopment of the site. Please contact hello@fiddlersferry.com if you want to find out more and register your interest.
To ready the site for redevelopment, Peel NRE submitted a ‘prior approval’ request to Warrington Council in September 2022 to agree the first stage of demolition which includes the coal stock yard, four northern cooling towers and some of the former administrative buildings to the north of the site.
A number of site surveys are also taking place on site which will inform how the masterplan is delivered, any remediation needed on site and the process of demolition of the current power station facility.
The Phase 1 consultation on plans to deliver c. 1.35 million sq ft of new employment floorspace for general industry / storage and distribution uses closed on 11 December 2022. Feedback to the consultation is currently being considered and a planning application will be submitted to Warrington Borough Council in the coming months.
The draft Development Framework for the wider site is currently being prepared. Discussions with Warrington Borough Council and Halton Borough Council are ongoing, and consultation with the local community and other stakeholders on the draft Development Framework will take place in 2023.
All information on the legal proceedings related to Fiddler’s Ferry can be found here: fiddlersferry.com/legalproceedings
If you have any further questions about this website or the consultation, please email us at hello@fiddlersferry.com
Or you can contact us at: Fiddler’s Ferry Project Team, Venus Building, 1 Old Park Lane, TRAFFORDCITY, Manchester M41 7HA
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