Ratcliffe on Soar power station site granted planning permission to fast-track investment

RATCLIFFE ON SOAR power station site has received Local Development Order (LDO) planning permission status that could fast-track new investment, green industry and business projects and potentially create thousands of permanent highly-skilled jobs.

Rushcliffe Borough Council’s Full Council meeting passed a vote in favour of the order at a meeting on July 13th 2023.

The power station, owned by international energy company Uniper, will close at the end of September 2024 in line with government policy to end coal-fired power generation.

The LDO could now increase the speed at which planning processes could be progressed for a range of modern industrial uses and the vision for the site sets out guiding principles by which any development could be brought forward, including:

• A zero-carbon technology and energy hub for the East Midlands

• Highly skilled, well-paid jobs

• Modern industry and business uses, served by on-site sustainable energy generation and storage

• Advanced manufacturing and low-carbon energy production, for example to produce electric car batteries

• A hub for research, development, and innovation, through links with universities, business support organisations and established industry.

The LDO being granted follows the creation of a design guide and masterplan for the site that was prepared to support the redevelopment, which will guide growth and development at the site over the coming years.

Part of the power station site is designated as the East Midlands Freeport, the UK’s only inland Freeport, which provides the catalyst to lever significant international investment in the Borough.