Vistry Starts Work on 2,000-Home Rugeley Power Station Regeneration with Housing Plus Group

Vistry has begun work on the redevelopment of the former Rugeley Power Station in Staffordshire, a 139-acre brownfield site planned to deliver about 2,000 homes alongside employment space, an all-through school and public open space. The firm announced the start of work on Nov. 10, 2026, at an event attended by partners including Housing Plus Group, local authorities and Cannock Chase MP Josh Newbury.

Rugeley Power Station Scheme: Homes, Tenures and First Phase

The site, in Rugeley and Brereton in the Cannock Chase area, will deliver around 2,000 homes across a range of tenures. These include 398 affordable homes through Housing Plus Group, as well as private rented and open-market homes.

The first phase, which received detailed planning permission in April, will bring forward 547 homes, a new spine road and public open space. Beyond housing, plans include up to five hectares of employment space, an all-through school, a riverside park, additional public open space and land for commercial uses. Vistry described the scheme as one of the Midlands' most significant brownfield regeneration projects.

From Coal-Fired Plant to Redevelopment Site

The former coal-fired power station closed in 2016 after more than five decades of operation. It secured outline planning permission for mixed-use redevelopment in 2020.

Vistry acquired the site from ENGIE in August 2025, following demolition and remediation works led by the energy company. Those works included the demolition of the four 117-metre cooling towers in June 2021, a major step in preparing the site for redevelopment.

Executives and Officials Comment

Adam Daniels, Vistry's Chief Executive, said: "This is an exciting moment for Rugeley and for everyone involved in bringing this important site back into use. Today's celebration marks the start of a new chapter for the former power station, transforming a complex brownfield site into a well-connected community with new homes, infrastructure, employment space and public amenities."

Wayne Gethings, Chief Executive at Housing Plus Group, said: "Delivering almost 400 new affordable homes marks a key moment in our partnership with Vistry and in the delivery of our development programme as we continue to create places people are proud to call home. This exciting strategic site is a key element of growing our provision of high-quality affordable homes. As a place-based leader, we are committed to delivering for our customers and communities in Staffordshire."

Dave Bradley, Managing Director at Vistry North West Midlands, said: "Starting work on site is a proud milestone and reflects the strong partnership effort behind this project. We are pleased to be moving into delivery and beginning the transformation of this landmark site into a sustainable mixed-tenure neighbourhood that will deliver lasting benefits for Rugeley and the surrounding area."

Josh Newbury, MP for Cannock Chase, said: "Ten years on from the closure of Rugeley Power Station, it's really exciting to see work getting underway on the site. This development is a new chapter for Rugeley and Brereton, bringing much-needed new homes on a brownfield site alongside community facilities and commercial units that will create a thriving new neighbourhood. I'll continue working closely with Vistry and our councils as the development progresses to make sure it benefits all residents, new and existing, and is a success story for local people and businesses."

Cllr Sean Bagguley, Acting Deputy Leader of Staffordshire County Council, said the investment "will not only help meet housing need, but will also help boost education, job creation and bring wider community benefits."

Councillor Mel Cecil, Portfolio Lead for Housing and Corporate Assets at Cannock Chase District Council, said the regeneration "will not only provide thousands of much-needed new homes, including almost 400 affordable properties, but will also create opportunities for businesses, employment and economic growth." She added that making good use of such a large brownfield site is an important part of shaping the district's future.

Vistry's Strategic Land Position and Financial Context

Rugeley is one of three large strategic sites Vistry identified among its acquisitions in its FY25 land activity. Together with Worcester and Bury St Edmunds, the three sites represent approximately 5,000 plots.

The project begins as Vistry reports weaker recent financial performance. For the first half of 2026, the company reported adjusted revenue of £1.703 billion, down 9% year over year, and 6,304 completions, down 8% from 6,889. It posted an adjusted loss before tax of £83.3 million, compared with an £80.6 million profit in the first half of 2025. The reported loss before tax was £661.3 million, including a £475 million goodwill impairment and a £73.2 million building-safety provision. Net debt at June 30, 2026, stood at £468.8 million, up from £293.1 million a year earlier.

Vistry has maintained its full-year 2026 adjusted profit-before-tax guidance of £125 million. Its forward order book stood at £3.1 billion, down from £3.313 billion, and it raised expected average daily net debt for the second half to £800 million, citing delays to a limited number of partner transactions.

Partnership Model and Tenure Mix

The Rugeley scheme combines several sources of housing demand. The Housing Plus Group agreement covers the 398 affordable homes, while private rented and open-market homes complete the tenure mix; the market-sale component remains exposed to mortgage affordability and consumer confidence. Employment and commercial uses are intended to help establish the site as a mixed-use district rather than a standalone housing estate.

The scheme also reflects the weight of partner-led work in Vistry's business: more than half of the approximately 6,100 homes reported in its first-half trading update were for affordable housing.

Sources

Vistry press release: Partners join Vistry to celebrate start of work on 2,000-home Rugeley Power Station regeneration