Didcot power stations

Didcot power stations stand in Sutton Courtenay, a village near Didcot in Oxfordshire. Didcot B is an active gas power plant supplying the National Grid, while Didcot OCGT provides emergency backup. Didcot A, a closed coal and oil plant, opened in 1970 and was demolished between 2014 and 2020. The site once featured six cooling towers and a tall chimney, landmarks visible across the landscape. The chimney, one of the UK’s tallest structures, could be seen from London. Demolition work began after the station closed in 2013.

The power stations played a major role in Britain’s energy supply for decades. Didcot A generated 2,000 MWe at its peak and employed up to 2,400 workers during construction. It was designed by architect Frederick Gibberd, known for his work on the Hinton Heavies. The station burned millions of tonnes of coal annually, later adding biomass to reduce emissions. Environmental groups protested its pollution levels, ranking it among the worst in the country. The site’s closure followed strict emissions rules and a decision not to modernise.

Visitors to the area now see an open site where the power stations once stood. The cooling towers were demolished in stages, the last three in 2019. The chimney fell in 2020, ending the landmark’s presence on the skyline. The land remains under development, with some ash repurposed for building materials. The site’s history is marked by both industrial achievement and environmental debate. The remaining Didcot B continues to operate, supplying power to the grid.