Green light to bring down power station's cooling towers

THE planned demolition of a power station’s cooling towers has now reached a key step.

- By LAUREN MONAGHAN

The iconic cooling towers of Ratcliffe-on-Soar power station have dominated the skyline of south Nottinghamshire since the 1960s.

The site was switched off on September 30, 2024, after generating electricity since 1968 using its four boilers, eight cooling towers and 199-metre tall chimney. It was the UK's last coal-fired power station.

Its owner Uniper submitted planning documents in July 2025 for the prior approval of the demolition of the cooling towers, the main power station building and other buildings on site.

On Thursday, Rushcliffe Borough Council approved the plans, marking a key step in the take down of the vast site.

It is planned for the gigantic towers to be knocked down with controlled explosives. Plans say it will take until at least 2030 to clear the whole site.