In June 1919, it was proposed that a 'joint power station' should be established in the Trentham or Barlaston areas to supply all of North Staffordshire.

The River Trent itself was too polluted, but suitably clean water could be obtained from the Stoke sewage works at Strongford, near Barlaston.

[2] On 2 March 1939, the NWMJEA decided to construct a power station at Meaford,[3] and after an enquiry in July 1939 an inquiry by the Electricity Commissioners agreed to the development.

[4] After delays caused by the Second World War, the North West Midlands Joint Electricity Authority began work on Meaford Power Station in 1945, with the structure being built by Dorman Long.

The station was built using numerous main and sub-contractors to include G. Percy Trentham (excavations, roads, railway sidings, superstructure etc.

The annual output of Meaford B in GWh was:The five cooling towers were demolished in September 1991, followed by formal closure of the station on 1 October 1991.

Demolition of the station then commenced, and was completed on 9 June 1996 with the felling of the chimney, which made the national television news that day.

A new company Meaford Energy Limited (MEL) has now submitted a DCO Application for the Meaford Energy Centre (MEC), a new combined cycle gas turbine (CCGT) power station and its integral gas and electricity connections to be built on part of the site of the old power stations.

Meaford Energy Limited (MEL) is a joint venture between Glenfinnan and St. Modwen – the owners of the site.