The cooling towers at the site will now be demolished in June as the the former coal-fired Power Station site is transformed into a mixed-use development of 2,300 low carbon homes and a school.

The development will advance in phases with initial work commencing to the north of the development, where the coal yards resided.

Remediation work will start in May and is projected to complete in the winter of 2022. Infrastructure will begin in the autumn with housing parcels following remediation.

The wider Rugeley masterplan includes more than 12 acres of employment space and a new country park alongside the River Trent.

Colin Macpherson, Divisional CEO for ENGIE UK & Ireland, said: “We have been in positive and productive communication with all the relevant local authorities and local residents for many years now; as we pushed to drive forward with a powerful proposal that would enrich the local area and inject new homes, jobs and opportunities after the closure of the power station.”

Bob Kean, Interim Managing Director for Cannock Chase Council said: “As we recover from the pandemic the development of the former power station site becomes hugely significant for us.

“It is one of our main economic objectives in our new corporate plan and will help us realise our ambition to be a carbon neutral District by 2030.

“We have been impressed by the way ENGIE has progressed its exciting vision. It is good to see that this is now starting to be delivered on the ground.”