power station in the United Kingdom per megawatt output. Ironbridge had been opted out of the Large Combustion Plant Directive, which meant the station would only be allowed to operate for up to 20,000 hours after 1 January 2008, and that it must close by 31 December 2015. In 2012 Ironbridge underwent modification to allow both generating units to run on 100% biomass (wooden pellets). This reduced the generating capacity from 500MW per unit to approximately 370MW per unit. In February 2014 fire damaged Unit 1 turbine and generator in Ironbridge B, and in May E.ON announced that the 370 MW unit would not be repaired, reducing the plant's generation capacity. Decommissioning and future development Following the switch off of Ironbridge B Power Station on 20 November 2015, work began on decommissioning the power station, and was expected to last into 2017. Initial demolition of the site started in July 2017 when the conveyors for the transport of coal and the associated workings were taken down. The rest of the site was to be demolished by the end of 2018 although opinion was divided on whether to demolish or keep the unique 'pink' cooling towers. Locals had sought to save the towers from demolition but English Heritage previously said the towers could not be protected as they do not meet strict criteria. The cooling towers were demolished as planned on Friday 6 December 2019 at 11am. The stations 'Tank Bay' building was demolished on 23 January 2021 at around 11am. The demolition could be heard as far as 3 miles away. The boiler house was demolished on 1 March 2021. The stations chimney was demolished on 3 September 2021. Once fully cleared, the site is to make space for over 1,000 homes, shops and other buildings. The Telford Steam Railway has aspirations to take over the now disused railway track between the power station and Lightmoor Junction, as part of their southern extension from Horsehay through Doseley. It is unknown how this would interact with trains from the national network should a passenger service be introduced to the new development. In June 2018 the Harworth Group announced that it had bought the Ironbridge power station site for an undisclosed sum. Plans for the site included the development of 'several hundred new homes' together with commercial development, leisure uses and significant public open space. An outline planning application for a development