Abandoned Power Station Reborn as 162-Home Eco-Park

As of October 2025, a £12.5 million masterplan is underway to transform the long-abandoned Hartshead Power Station and Millbrook Sidings site in Stalybridge, Tameside into a sprawling 162-home eco-park. The 16-hectare site, which has remained dormant for decades, is being reimagined as a vibrant new community space for the 35,000 residents of Stalybridge and Mossley.

The plans, approved by Tameside Council last year, involve dividing the former industrial area into four distinct zones. Zone one will be a protected "ecology area" with ponds around the Printworks, while zone two will be an "ecology enhancement area" on the former power station site. Zone three will feature woodland along the old railway line, and zone four will house the 162 new homes, including a mix of two-, three-, and four-bedroom properties.

Despite facing some initial community concerns over the loss of green space, the developers have worked to prioritize nature conservation and biodiversity. The original plans for a community hub and visitor parking have been replaced with new water bodies, a woodland, and a flower meadow, ensuring the site's ecological value is preserved and enhanced.

The transformation of this long-neglected industrial area into a vibrant, sustainable community hub represents an exciting new chapter for Stalybridge. As the local residents eagerly await the completion of the project, the abandoned power station is set to be reborn as a thriving eco-park that will provide a much-needed green oasis for the surrounding neighborhoods.