Changes

[[File:Buildwas_railway_station_1935708_42d2f55f.jpg|thumb|200px300px|Ironbridge A power station, with Buildwas railway station in the foreground]]

Following Approval for the closure construction of the Severn Valley line, construction began on the larger Ironbridge B power station was given in November 1962, even though the [[The Severn Valley Railway under GWR/BR ownership#Closure|closure of the Severn Valley Branch]] had not been formally approved at that stage. Following closure in 1963, construction began in the same year which engulfed the former site of [[Buildwas]] station. The line from [[Coalbrookdale]] over the [[Albert Edward Bridge]] was used by coal, oil, and biomass trains serving the power station.

==Future useRedevelopment==From 2016 the future of the redundant cooling towers and station site was uncertain, with discussions continuing between local authorities and Uniper, which is was overseeing its decommissioning.<ref>[http://www.shropshirestar.com/news/2016/12/30/ironbridge-power-stations-future-call-to-look-at-all-options-and-take-care/ Shropshire Star 30 December 2016] (retrieved 6 January 2017)</ref> By February 2017 decommissioning work at the plant was in its final stages and plans for its demolition had also been drawn up. Owner Uniper said it decided to seek a buyer after concluding "it wasn't suitable for any future conventional power generation projects".<ref>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-shropshire-38934217 'Plans to put ex-Ironbridge power station site up for sale', BBC, 13 February 2017] (Retrieved 13 February 2017)</ref> In May 2017 an application to begin removing the coal processing conveyors was submitted with demolition started in the September.<ref>[https://www.shropshirestar.com/news/local-hubs/telford/ironbridge/2017/09/06/contractor-to-begin-demolition-at-ironbridge-power-station-on-monday/ Shrophire Star 6 September 2017]</ref> SitePlans for the demolition were submitted to Shropshire Council in September 2017 and approved in the November, with work expected to begin in Spring 2018 and taking about three years.<ref>[https://www.shropshirestar.com/news/local-hubs/telford/ironbridge/2017/10/06/councillors-to-work-with-community-as-power-station-brought-down/#VG3c2EomU4877tQz.99 Shropshire Star 30 September 2017] (retrieved 30 September 2017)</ref><ref>[https://www.shropshirestar.com/news/local-owner Uniper is hubs/telford/ironbridge/2017/11/08/ironbridge-power-station-approval-given-for-demolition/#Ik5j3JFwVrBsltE6.01 Shropshire Star 8 November 2017] (retrieved 8 November 2017)</ref> On 19 June 2018 the Harworth Group announced that it had bought the Ironbridge power station site for an undisclosed sum. The company planned to "''...remediate the site ready for future development and to promote the site through the planning to sell process, targeting the delivery of a new mixed-use development of several hundred new homes alongside commercial development, leisure uses and significant public open space.''"<ref>[https://harworthgroup.com/harworth-group-acquires-major-regeneration-site-as-it-grows-its-presence-in-the -midlands/ Press release, June 2018] (retrieved 22 July 2018)</ref> In October 2018 it set out plans.<ref>[https://www.shropshirestar.com/news/local-hubs/telford/ironbridge/2018/10/12/transformation-vision-for-ironbridge-power-station-site-unveiled/?fbclid=IwAR2vTJ08T2NRRsxH2vydpV5N2Q7u-dXaGBx7dl5_NaxH3IPrdsku1AFnHf4 Shropshire Star 12 October 2018] (Retrieved 22 October 2018)</ref> The towers were demolished on 6 December 2019<ref>[https://www.shropshirestar.com/news/local-hubs/telford/ironbridge/2019/12/06/ironbridge-power-station -cooling-towers-coming-down-today-live-coverage-here/ Shropshire Star, 6 December 2019] (Retrieved 12 December 2019)</ref>. Following public consultation in May 2019, Harworth Group submitted an outline planning application to Shropshire Council and said Telford & Wrekin Council for redevelopment of the work site on 19th December 2019, which they anticipated would allow take between six to twelve months to determine.<ref>[https://ironbridgeregeneration.co.uk/the-submitted-application/ IronbridgeRegeneration.co.uk] (retrieved 12 August 2020)</ref> The application and related documents including objections may be seen at the [https://pa.shropshire.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=documents&keyVal=Q2YLFWTD06Z00 Shropshire Council Planning website] and [https://secure.telford.gov.uk/planning/pa-applicationsummary.aspx?applicationnumber=TWC/2019/1046 Telford & Wrekin Council Planning website]. The plan was initially rejected by Shropshire Council's Southern Planning Committee in August 2021 over a number of issues including the main demolition work level of guaranteed affordable housing,<ref>[https://www.shropshirestar.com/news/local-hubs/telford/ironbridge/2021/08/14/councillor-urges-people-to start -look-at-bigger-picture-over-power-station-site/?fbclid=IwAR0PlNp8PNUqFh9gsvEQ_Y0DNP7rV1fIhG2yxhIcHaiLmVRn-vVJAExUOA0 Shropshire Star] (retrieved 16 August 2021)</ref> but was approved in September 2021 after revised proposals were submitted<ref>[https://www.shropshirestar.com/news/local-hubs/telford/ironbridge/2021/09/20/controversial-ironbridge-development-given-the-go-ahead/ Shropshire Star] (retrieved 18 November 2021)</ref>. ===Telford Steam Railway extension plans===In 2018 the Telford Steam Railway released plans to extend to the site<ref>[https://steamingtoironbridge.co.uk/ 'Steaming to Ironbridge', Telford Steam Railway website] (Retrieved 22 October 2018)</ref>. ===Revolution Very Light Rail ('RVLR') vehicle demonstrator===In 2021 Transport Design International leased part of the site to create a purpose built facility comprising part of the former railway, buildings, a platform and other infrastructure, with the aim of demonstrating how rapidly a reopening can be implemented and to showcase and obtain certification for a demonstrator [https://transportdesigninternational.com/portfolio/revolution-vlr/ RVLR vehicle] within a railway reopening environment<ref>Modern Railways Magazine, November 2021, p.84</ref><ref>[httphttps://bbctransportdesigninternational.incom/launching-revolution-very-light-rail-rvlr/2rvHWUs BBC ShropshireTransport Design International, 23 May 20177 October 2021](Retrieved 24 October 2021)</ref>.

==See alsoLinks==*Wikipedia: [[Locomotives named after the Severn Valley Railway#Locomotives names with local connections | Locomotives names with local connections]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ironbridge_power_stations Ironbridge Power Stations]