Ratcliffe Power Station – Because Uniper has not yet appointed a demolition contractor or published an exact programme, this timeline reflects the order of works, statutory conditions, and standard sequencing used on comparable large-scale industrial demolitions (such as Ferrybridge C or Didcot A).
Phase 1 – Pre-Demolition Preparation (Autumn 2025 – Spring 2026)
Key activities:
Appointment of principal demolition contractor following tender process.
Submission and council approval of:
- Advertisement -
Detailed Detonation and Demolition Strategy.
Final Dust, Noise & Vibration Management Plans.
Updated Materials Management Plan (MMP) signed off by a Qualified Person and the Environment Agency.
Revised ecological survey updates and mitigation schedule.
Establishment of site compounds, welfare facilities, access control, wheel-wash and road-sweeping systems.
Completion of asbestos surveys and removal under Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012.
Public engagement meetings and safety briefings for nearby residents and parish councils.
Duration: ≈ 6 months
Phase 2 – Soft-Strip and Non-Explosive Dismantling (Spring – Late 2026)
Key activities:
Removal of internal plant, cabling, pipework, and electrical systems from the turbine hall, control building, and ancillary workshops.
Safe draining and cleaning of oil, fuel and water systems.
Progressive dismantling of smaller outbuildings and conveyor structures.
Decommissioning of coal-handling and limestone/gypsum facilities.
Noise, dust and traffic monitoring begins under approved plans.
Duration: ≈ 6 – 9 months
Phase 3 – Main Structure Demolition (2027 – 2028)
Key activities:
Mechanical dismantling of the boiler house, bunker bay, FGD plant and chimneys.
Controlled explosive demolition (“blow-down”) of eight cooling towers, in two or more events spaced several months apart.
Each detonation coordinated with Network Rail track possessions and MAG Aerodrome Safeguarding.
Temporary traffic management on the A453 and local roads during exclusion periods.
Continuous environmental monitoring and communication with residents before each blast event.
Duration: ≈ 12 – 18 months
Phase 4 – Ground Clearance and Crushing (Late 2028 – 2029)
Key activities:
Crushing of concrete and masonry for re-use on site.
Removal of structural steel for recycling.
Infilling of basements, bunkers and voids using approved materials under the MMP.
Removal of remaining temporary buildings and reinstatement of rights-of-way where previously diverted.
Duration: ≈ 9 – 12 months
Phase 5 – Site Restoration and Verification (2029 – 2030)
Key activities:
Final grading and compaction of ground to finished levels.
Environmental verification sampling for contamination and dust.
Submission of Remediation Verification Report under Condition 15 of the Local Development Order.
Removal of site infrastructure and handover for redevelopment under the Ratcliffe-on-Soar LDO (clean-energy and innovation-hub schemes).
Duration: ≈ 6 – 9 months
Indicative Overall Programme
| Phase | Description | Approx. Dates | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pre-demolition preparation | Oct 2025 – Apr 2026 | 6 months |
| 2 | Soft-strip / non-explosive dismantling | Apr – Dec 2026 | 9 months |
| 3 | Main structural demolition (incl. cooling towers) | Jan 2027 – Jun 2028 | 18 months |
| 4 | Ground clearance & crushing | Jul 2028 – Jun 2029 | 12 months |
| 5 | Restoration & handover | Jul 2029 – Oct 2030 | 9 months |
Physical demolition is expected to start in spring 2026 once Uniper’s contractor and method statements are approved, with the entire site cleared and restored by autumn 2030 — within the five-year limit set by Rushcliffe Borough Council.
The power station ceased coal-fired operations on 30 September 2024, following more than 50 years of service. Built in the late 1960s and operated by Uniper UK, the site has been a defining industrial landmark in Nottinghamshire, its 200-metre chimney and vast cooling towers visible for miles across the Soar Valley. Ratcliffe-on-Soar was one of the last four operational coal-fired stations in Britain when the government confirmed the 2024 coal phase-out, bringing an end to a key era of power generation.
© westbridgfordwire.com
Uniper’s application sought prior approval under the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order for the method of demolition and restoration of the site. Rushcliffe Borough Council’s planning officers recommended approval following extensive consultation with statutory bodies, neighbouring councils and safety authorities. The council determined that both the method and restoration plans are acceptable, subject to strict environmental, ecological and safety conditions.
Demolition will take place in phases and includes the controlled detonation of the cooling towers. A detailed Detonation and Demolition Strategy must be agreed with the council, National Highways, and Nottinghamshire County Council before any explosive works occur. The plan will cover exclusion zones, environmental safeguards and traffic management, given the proximity of the M1, A453 and the East Midlands Parkway railway line. Controlled track possessions will be arranged with Network Rail during key demolition events to ensure safety near the adjoining mainline.
Demolition must begin and be completed within five years of the approval date — meaning all works must be carried out by October 2030 at the latest.
No demolition can start until a demolition contractor is appointed and the required plans — including the Detonation and Demolition Strategy, final Dust and Noise Management Plans, and the updated Materials Management Plan — are approved in writing by the Borough Council.
The site’s close proximity to East Midlands Airport has also been addressed. Manchester Airports Group (MAG) has approved revised Bird Hazard and Aerodrome Safeguarding Management Plans to minimise risks from dust, debris or lighting interference during demolition. Historic England raised no objection but required protective measures to safeguard the Scheduled Monument at Red Hill, a Roman archaeological site that partly overlaps the site boundary. The monument area will be fenced and excluded from any works.
Environmental protections have been central to the approval. The Environment Agency reviewed Uniper’s Materials Management Plan and Demolition Environmental Management Plan, confirming that risks to groundwater and controlled waters can be managed. All waste and materials reuse will be governed by the Definition of Waste: Code of Practice. Dust, vibration and noise monitoring will be mandatory, with full plans to be agreed once the demolition contractor is appointed. Demolition activities will normally take place between 7am and 7pm Monday to Friday and 8am to 1pm on Saturdays.
Extensive ecological surveys found the project unlikely to harm local wildlife, though mitigation measures must be implemented for bats, birds, reptiles and great crested newts. Surveys will be updated as necessary before demolition proceeds. Environmental Health officers concluded that noise and dust can be controlled to acceptable levels, though short-term impacts may occur during explosive events, particularly for the nearest residential property, Middle Gate Cottage, around 360 metres away.
The restoration will see all above-ground structures cleared and the land levelled in readiness for redevelopment under the LDO. Demolition rubble will be crushed and reused to fill underground voids, with clean imported material used where needed. The power station’s rail head is to be retained to support future sustainable freight use on the site. Once completed, the cleared land will become a key part of the region’s clean energy and economic regeneration programme.
The decision formally grants Uniper five years to complete the demolition. Rushcliffe Borough Council emphasised the importance of ongoing liaison with safety regulators and the local community throughout the process. The power station’s removal will close a major chapter in Nottinghamshire’s industrial story, paving the way for a new phase of innovation and low-carbon development at one of the East Midlands’ most prominent industrial sites.