The Cottam Power Station cooling towers, a familiar sight on the Nottinghamshire skyline for nearly six decades, have finally come down in a controlled demolition that marked the end of an era. Their fall was as symbolic as it was dramatic, closing the chapter on a landmark that defined the local landscape and Britain’s coal-powered history.
A Towering History
Cottam Power Station first came online in 1968, during a period when coal was the beating heart of Britain’s electricity supply. Its eight hyperboloid cooling towers, each standing 114 metres tall, became unmistakable features of the Trent Valley skyline. Designed for a working life of around thirty years, the station outlasted expectations and remained operational until September 2019. For over half a century, Cottam generated enough electricity to power millions of homes, serving as a cornerstone of Britain’s industrial age.
Why the Towers Came Down
The decision to demolish Cottam was part of the UK’s wider shift away from coal and towards cleaner, renewable energy. By 2019, EDF Energy announced the station’s closure as coal-fired plants became uneconomical and environmentally unsustainable. The demolition, led by specialists Brown & Mason, formed part of the national commitment to phase out coal power completely by 2025.
On 14 August 2025, explosives reduced all eight towers to rubble in a matter of seconds. The carefully planned collapse was not only a feat of engineering precision but also a record-breaking event, recognised as the largest simultaneous demolition of cooling towers ever carried out.
Fifty-Seven Years on the Skyline
For the people of Nottinghamshire, the towers were more than just industrial structures. They stood for fifty-seven years, twice as long as their original design life, becoming ingrained in the local identity. Generations grew up with them on the horizon, and their absence now leaves a striking gap in the landscape.
What Comes Next
While the demolition marks the end of coal power at Cottam, it also paves the way for regeneration. Plans are already in place to transform the site into a new garden community, with proposals for around 1,500 homes. The redevelopment will symbolise a shift from the heavy industry of the past towards a more sustainable, community-centred future.
A Landmark Remembered
The collapse of the Cottam cooling towers is a powerful reminder of how quickly the familiar can change. For decades, the towers stood as both a symbol of Britain’s reliance on coal and the communities that supported it. Their demolition may mark the end of an industrial chapter, but it also opens the door to renewal, showing how places can evolve and adapt as times change.
Watch the video bellow of the demolition:
Video by Railview
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I remember these, so sad to see them gone from the cityscape :(
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