Historically, Blackburn Meadows was a major site for electricity generation in Sheffield.

Two coal-fired power stations were built on the site in the early 1900s and were later joined by the Blackburn Meadows Power Station, which was built between 1937 and 1942.

By the 1960s the power station remained in operation and the M1 motorway was built close to the cooling towers later that decade.

The main power plant was demolished in the 1980s. However, two of the power station's eight cooling towers were left standing as, at the time, engineers did not have the expertise to bring them down safely without compromising the integrity of the motorway.

Now, 30 years on, the Highways Agency has reinforced the motorway and demolition specialists have developed the necessary experience and expertise to bring them down in a safe and controlled manner.

The two towers – the Salt and Pepper Pots as some knew them – were brought down in a controlled explosion in the early hours of Sunday, 24th August 2008.

The future of the site has been secured and Blackburn Meadows will once again provide power for the Steel City. Earlier this year Sheffield City Council have planning permission for a new biomass power station to be built on the site.

The new station will generate 25MW of electricity, powering up to 40,000 local homes and businesses, by burning recycled wood.

Construction is expected to start early in 2009, with the first power being produced in 2011.