Fawley Waterside
On Sunday 31st October 2021, the iconic chimney of Fawley Power Station was demolished. The 198 metre landmark was the last remnant of the oil-fired power station in Hampshire, first commissioned in 1971 and operational for more than 40 years, until it was officially shut down on 31st March 2013.
When at its peak, Fawley Power Station boasted the first of a new generation of 500MW turbines, high pressure boilers and the world’s largest cooling pumps. It could power 1 million homes and in the 70s and early 80s it was proudly recognised as the most efficient power station in the UK. The chimney itself was a navigational guide for sailors returning to Southampton long after the station was closed.
It was purchased in 2015 by Fawley Waterside and in 2017 official plans were showcased in a series of public exhibitions, revealing that the site would be turned into a new residential and commercial complex. The project planned to provide over 1,500 homes, a healthcare centre, a school, plus shops and restaurants alongside more than 2000 jobs. Meanwhile, the station continued to offer its services as a location for various TV and Film productions including Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation and BBC’s Red Dwarf until the final and most famous Solo: A Star Wars Story was filmed in 2017.
Since then, Fawley Waterside have continued the transformation of the site with the help of The Brown and Mason Group. We have been proudly supporting the project with the opportunity of completing the HV isolation works, relocation of the substation switchgear, and carrying out various remedial works across the site.
The demolition of the chimney not only marks the end of an era, but also the beginning of an exciting development opportunity. So many people braved the torrential weather to witness the monumental occasion at 7.00am on Sunday 31st October. The chimney stack was brought down by a controlled blast, marked by the sound of the warning siren. Fawley Waterside’s ambition to transform this once iconic landmark and modern historical interest is well underway, in order to create their aim of “one of the most beautiful small towns in England”.
You can follow their story and watch the video of the demolition here:
https://m.facebook.com/fawleywaterside/
https://fawleywaterside.co.uk/
https://brownandmason.com/
Fawley Station back in 2008, image courtesy of Wikipedia, author Gillian Thomas from Hythe, Hampshire, UK. Source : Clouds and Clouds - Fawley Power Station
The demolition of Fawley's Chimney. Image courtsey of IOW County Press, Author Lucy Morgan, picture by Neil Mockridge. Source: https://www.countypress.co.uk/news/19679095.fawley-chimney-demolition-livestream-weekend/
Following the controlled explosion which brought down the chimney at fawley Power Station. Picture owned by Energy Network Services.
