Stella South Power Station

VHE Construction plc has secured the contract for the remediation of Stella South Power Station, near Gateshead, for St Paul's Developments.

The coal-fired power station was operational from 1951 until its closure in the 1990s, following which all above ground structures were demolished to ground level, although the foundations and underground structures and culverts remain. VHE are carrying out remediation and reclamation works, which comprise the break-out and processing of the complex substructures on the site along with the soil stabilisation and bioremediation of contaminated materials utilising the services of their in-house technical division VHE Technology.

The reclamation strategy was developed with a view to maximising the amount of material to be re-used on-site. Demolition rubble, concrete floor slabs and made ground are used as fill material following break-out, crushing and screening.

Bulk earthworks involve a cut and fill operation of approximately 300,000m³ to achieve the final ground levels. Clean capping over the majority of the site and the construction of primary infrastructure access, comprising a site access road with services, surface water drainage outfalls and a foul pumping station, will also be undertaken as part of the 52 week contract. The scheme will prepare the 19 hectare site for a 500 unit housing development.