February 2010: Staffordshire Moorlands Council’s Planning Committee – statement from Blythe Park Power

Blythe Park Power are disappointed with Thursday’s decision (February 11th) by Staffordshire Moorlands District Council’s Planning Committee to object to its application for a gas-fired power station on land adjacent to the Blyth Park Business Park.  The company will review the points made by the Council’s planning committee, and look to modify aspects of the proposal where possible.  In addition, Blythe Park Power will continue to work with the other statutory consultees, such as the Environment Agency to address their issues to their satisfaction as part of the Section 36 planning application process, as well as with the Department of Energy and Climate Change, with whom the decision rests.

We are confident that Blythe Park Power can contribute to the national need for cleaner and more efficient electricity generation, as well as provide a significant boost to the local economy.  We will maintain our dialogue with the local community to ensure that they are kept up to date with the project, as well as with the local council.

February 2010: Blythe Park Power meets local residents about power station proposal

Last night (Thursday, February 4^th) Blythe Park Power met local residents from Cresswell and Draycott to answer their questions about the company’s proposed gas-fired power station.  The meeting took place at St Margaret’s Church, Draycott and was attended by around 75 people.

Blythe Park Power used the opportunity to outline why the site, on land adjacent to the A50 and to the Blythe Park Business Base, is a suitable location for a clean and modern gas-fired power station, the steps that the company would take to manage the short-term impact of the station’s construction and the economic benefit that the station will bring to the area.  Blythe Park Power also explained the reasons why new gas-fired power stations needed to be built in Staffordshire and in other parts of the UK to replace aging coal-fired and nuclear power stations, and to provide back-up power generation for intermittent wind power.

John Wearmouth, a director of Blythe Park Power said: “We have undertaken a series of environmental and technical studies and have shared our plans with local residents and a range of organisations including the Environment Agency, Staffordshire County Council and Staffordshire Moorlands District Council.  We are now carrying out additional work that we believe will satisfy the planning and environmental authorities.  We have never denied that the power station will have impacts upon the local area and if we secure planning consent, we will work with the local councils and residents in managing them carefully.”

Blythe Park Power’s planning application will be considered by Staffordshire Moorlands District Council’s Planning Committee on February 11^th and thereafter the Department of Energy & Climate Change.  DECC has primary planning responsibility for any power station more than 50MW in size.

January 2010: Project Update

Since its application was submitted to the Department of Energy & Climate Change in October 2009, Blythe Park Power has undertaken additional survey work on the site, spoken about its plans with members of the local community and responded to a large number of requests from local firms wishing to get involved in the project. The project is still being considered by DECC and a decision is expected from DECC later this year.

John Wearmouth, a Director of Blythe Park Power said: “We are keen to assure people about our plans and explain the steps that we have taken to assess the suitability of the site and the steps that we will take to minimise the station’s impact if permission is granted for its construction. However, we do accept that there are still local concerns regarding the project.

In addition, we have outlined the benefits to the local area that the station will bring, not just jobs but also our potential support that can be given towards local education and environmental initiatives.

Given the size and nature of the power station it’s important that our plans are carefully considered in the context of the local area and the national need for new sources of power generation.” 

The company intends to host another local area public exhibition and arrange visits for local residents to an operating gas-fired power station within the next few weeks.

October 2009: Blythe Park Power submits planning application for gas-fired power station

Blythe Park Power has submitted its planning application to the Department of Energy & Climate Change for permission to build a £400m 950 MW gas-fired power station.  The application is open for public consultation and scrutiny from Staffordshire Moorlands District Council and other statutory organisations and a decision from DECC is expected by the middle of 2010.

The planning application, under Section 36 of the Electricity Act, includes a detailed Environmental Impact Assessment and technical information relating to the station’s construction and operation.

If permission is granted, the state-of the-art high-efficiency station will help bolster the region’s security of energy supply, employ up to 1000 people during its construction phase, employ 50-80 people on a full-time and long-term basis once it enters operation and will contribute more than £10 m per annum into the local economy.

August 2009: Blythe Park Power hosts public exhibition about its plans

Blythe Park Power hosted a two day public exhibition of its plans to build a 950 MW gas-fired power station. Local residents were given the opportunity to learn more about the company’s plans, its reasons for choosing the site, the advantages of gas-fired generation over other forms of power generation and the steps that the company would take to minimise the impact of the station’s construction and operation.

Importantly, the exhibition gave people the opportunity to see images of the proposed plant against the local landscape and to meet and question the Blythe Park Power team.

The exhibition took place at the Blythe Park Business Park and was attended by more than 100 people.

June 2009: Blythe Park Power outlines plans for gas-fired power station in north Staffordshire

Independent power station developer, Blythe Park Power Ltd, has outlined its plans for a 950MW gas-fired power station on land adjacent to the Blythe Park Business Park in Draycott-in-the-Moors, Staffordshire. The site is 10 miles south-east of Stoke-on-Trent.

The company has issued a “Scoping Document” about the project which outlines the strategic need for the power station, the reasons for choosing the site and the steps that the company will undertake to take forward the station through the development and planning process.  These steps include a series of comprehensive technical and environmental studies and consultation with local and national organisations as well as local residents.

The Scoping Document has been issued to a number of organisations, including the Department of Energy & Climate Change, Staffordshire Moorlands District Council, Staffordshire County Council, Natural England, the Environment Agency, the Highways Agency and groups such as the RSPB and Staffordshire Wildlife Trust.

Given the size of the power station, and in accordance with government planning policy, the planning authority rests with the Department of Energy & Climate Change.

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