Our power station revamp is electric, say ex-workers.

Byline: By Alan Harris

FORMER workers at an old Coventry power station saw at first hand how it had been transformed into a live-work community.

Thirty-two members of East Midlands Electricity Board (EMEB) Long Service Association visited Electric Wharf, off Sandy Lane, Radford, to see how their old workplace had been revamped.

The shells of the former generator and turbine halls, boiler houses and offices - which date from 1894 - remain but now house eco-friendly lofts and offices.

Former electrical engineer David Chandler, who worked for Coventry Electricity Board at the site from 1957 until 2000, said: "Everybody thoroughly enjoyed the visit. The redevelopment of what was a Victorian power station is nothing less than impressive.

"The buildings still look industrial from the outside but once inside it was difficult to remember how it once was."

The pounds 18 million redevelopment of the power station complex was completed by Complex Development Projects (CDP).

John Moss, a director of CDP, said: "It was great to welcome back some of the people who worked here and to show them how we tried to make Electric Wharf special and unique."

He said it would have been a "real shame" if an industrial building so important to the city's heritage had not been preserved.

Sixty-seven apartments and 34 office suites have been created at the site.

The last phase of the development will see six more offices and 21 houses built, which will include a host of environmental features.

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FRIENDS REUNITED... John Moss (front right) with David Chandler and other ex-electricity board workers who enjoyed a visit to the eco-friendly Electric Wharf.