Watch as Longannet Power Station structure is demolished in controlled explosion

The last remaining structure at the Fife site – containing its boiler room, turbine hall and control room – was demolished this morning.

Smoke could be seen billowing into the air across the Firth of Forth, with householders across the water in Grangemouth reporting hearing a loud bang.

Residents had been warned to expect “higher than normal noise levels” and “rising dust” in the days prior to the explosion.

Grangemouth and Skinflats Community Council passed on a public information announcement regarding the demolition of the former coal-fired Kincardine power station.

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It stated: “This demolition has been carefully planned and resourced within a controlled safe environment by the demolition contractor Brown and Mason under the supervision of the demolition site manager.

“Small quantities of explosives may be used to aid the demolition of the structure and could result in higher than normal noise levels or rising dust that may attract your attention. This will only last a short duration, please do not be alarmed at this time.

“The demolition activity may pass with minimal visual or noise impact, due to your close proximity to Longannet Power Station.”

In 2018 Spanish rolling stock engineering company Talgo, which specialises in manufacturing fast, lightweight trains for countries like the USA and Saudi Arabia, announced the Longannet site was the preferred location for its new factory.

According to Talgo, the Longannet factory would initially occupy an area of 70,000 square metres and its construction would take 18 months with at least 1000 people working on-site once it was complete.

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