Hertfordshire county council has approved plans to build an energy from waste facility in Hoddesdon to handle the county’s residual waste.
However, the plans for the 350,000 tonnes per annum capacity facility at Rye House, proposed by Veolia, could still be called in by Sajid Javid, the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government for consideration. A reference to the secretary of state is said to be standard for a project of this size.
An artist’s impression of Veolia’s proposed Rye House energy from waste plant in Hertfordshire
The planning approval is the latest stage in the project for Veolia, which has been trying to develop an EfW facility in Hertfordshire for a number of years but has faced multiple setbacks.
New Barnfield
Plans for a plant were originally put forward by the resources and waste firm for a site at New Barnfield, to fulfil an £800 million waste contract with the county council. However, planning permission was overturned in summer 2015, following a drawn-out political battle over the development of the facility.
The Barnfield plant itself was granted planning permission by Hertfordshire in 2012. DCLG then overturned the council’s decision in July 2014 after the application was called in by then Secretary of State Eric Pickles.
In 2016, the company signed a revised 30-year contract with the county council worth £1 billion to treat the 350,000 tonnes of household residual waste generated in the county each year (see letsrecycle.com story).
Permission
Before Christmas 2017, the council confirmed that following a meeting on 20 December, its committee voted 7 to 3 to grant planning permission for the Hoddesdon facility.
Commenting on the news, Veolia described the facility as “much needed treatment infrastructure”.
A spokesperson for Veolia said: “The Rye House Energy Recovery Facility planning application is a long-term and sustainable solution to handle Hertfordshire’s residual waste challenge and this decision allows us to move the project forward, subject to a review by DCLG.
“This represents a significant investment in the UK’s delivery of low carbon energy and benefits the environment allowing waste to be treated locally and maximising landfill diversion.”
“Lengthy debate”
Speaking after the meeting, Ian Reay, chair of the development control committee, said the decision was reached after a “lengthy debate”.
“It hasn’t been a straightforward decision – and I know it won’t be universally popular – but overall the committee felt that the negative impacts of the facility are clearly outweighed by the benefits.”
Ian Reay
Herts county council
He explained: “We’ve heard representations on the impacts this facility will have on the local area – including concerns about noise, pollution and traffic as well as the potential impact on the local air quality.
“But on the other hand, we’ve heard about the urgent need for a waste treatment facility in the county, the lack of suitable alternative sites and the positive impact the proposal will have on the local economy.
“It hasn’t been a straightforward decision – and I know it won’t be universally popular – but overall the committee felt that the negative impacts of the facility are clearly outweighed by the benefits, and therefore we’ve resolved that planning permission be granted for the proposal subject to appropriate planning conditions and the prior conclusion of a Section 106 agreement.”
Call in
However, there is now the potential for history to repeat itself as the Secretary of State may choose to call in the application for his determination.
After receiving a number of requests to call in the planning application, the Secretary of State is thought to be considering these calls with a decision likely to be made in due course.
Hertfordshire county council said if the application is not called in, the council will issue a formal decision notice granting planning permission upon the completion of the Section 106 Agreement.
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Source: letsrecycle.com Waste Managment
