Vistry has acquired the 139-hectare site of the former Rugeley Power Station in Staffordshire from global energy transition utility ENGIE for an undisclosed price.
The housebuilder intends to transform the brownfield site into a community of around 2,000 family homes across a mix of tenures, including affordable, private rented sector (PRS) and open market sale homes.
Following the closure of the power station in 2016, the site underwent demolition and remediation work and outline planning permission was secured for 2,300 new homes, an all-through school, a riverside park and commercial use.
Michael Moore, managing director of Vistry North West Midlands, said: “This is an important development that will contribute to Rugeley’s economic growth, providing both new jobs and high-quality places to live. Like many areas of the UK, Rugeley has a severe shortage of housing and that’s something we’re aiming to address by delivering affordable and social rent homes, as well as PRS and open market homes, and crucially delivering them at pace.”
Miya Paolucci, CEO of ENGIE UK, added: “Rugeley Power Station played an important role in the UK’s energy history, and we have been proud to remediate the site and lead its transformation into a place focused on sustainability, community, and opportunity. We are pleased to confirm the transfer of the site to Vistry, who will continue to deliver our vision of a beautiful and sustainable community asset.”
William Cox, director of residential at JLL, said: “There’s increasing demand across the Midlands for schemes that offer both economic and social value, and this project does exactly that. It’s the kind of development that brings long-term opportunity and is exactly what the local area needs.”
