POWER giant ScottishPower has announced plans to build a new power station at Damhead Creek, near Hoo.

The company say the new development, will cost about £500 million and will bring 1,000 construction jobs to the area.

ScottishPower proposes to submit a planning application for it to be developed alongside the existing gas-fired Damhead Creek plant at Kingsnorth.

The new power plant will be called Damhead Creek 2.

The multi-million pound expansion will more than double the output of the existing plant, generating enough power to supply the needs of nearly 1.5 million homes.

The 15-acre site is on land designated for industrial development.

Within the next four years it is expected that consumer demand for electricity will begin to outstrip supply.

Alistair Laing ScottishPower’s project manager, said: “There is an immediate need to generate more electricity as older power stations are being shut down and demand continues to grow.

“Damhead Creek has been operating successfully at Hoo since 2001 and is ideally located for an extended power plant.”

The new plant will be powered by gas which emits about half the amount of CO2 in comparison to an equivalent sized coal-fired power station and will be constructed so no carbon capture technology can be readily added to the plant.

A planning application will shortly be submitted to the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) and this will be accompanied by a comprehensive environmental statement which looks at all aspects of the proposal in detail.

When it is ready, the environmental statement will be available for people to study at the planning department at Medway Council.

The company is also hosting a public exhibition to inform people living in the area of its proposals and will continue to update people with latest developments.

Experts will be on hand to discuss the plans with residents, who will have an opportunity to comment on the plans.

The exhibition is being held at BAE Systems Sports and Social Club at Bells Lane, on Friday, March 20 and Saturday, March 21, from 9am to 5pm.

ScottishPower has also written to all residents in the area informing them of the plans.

In addition to providing more power, the development will also bring 1,000 construction jobs as well as 50 permanent jobs once the plant becomes operational.