Council’s waste contractor wins appeal
The Planning Inspectorate has today (Tuesday 10 January 2012) approved the appeal from Veolia Environmental Services, Shropshire Council’s waste contractor, and granted planning permission for an energy from waste facility at Battlefield in Shrewsbury.
Veolia’s planning application was refused by Shropshire Council’s Strategic Planning Committee back in September 2010. Veolia had appealed to the Government’s Planning Inspectorate against the decision.
Throughout the appeal, which was held over a six-week period in Autumn 2011, the Inspector heard evidence under cross examination from interested parties both in support and against the proposal. The final day of the appeal was held in November, where all parties gave their closing submissions.
Since the end of the inquiry, the Planning Inspector has been weighing up the evidence, and today announced his decision to overrule the original decision by the council’s planning committee.
An energy from waste facility deals with household waste that cannot be reused, recycled or composted, and which would otherwise end up in landfill. The facility will also generate electricity, and supply power equivalent to the energy consumption of more than 10,000 homes, from the 90,000 tonnes of residual waste generated in Shropshire.
This will consequently be of valuable means of helping the council avoid high landfill charges and also contribute to reducing dependency on using fossil fuels to generate our electricity and help overcome the looming energy gap.
Councillor Mike Owen, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member responsible for waste, said:
“As waste authority, we are pleased that the Planning Inspector has decided to grant Veolia’s appeal and grant planning permission for the energy from waste facility, subject to the Secretary of State’s approval.
“Energy from waste facilities have an extremely important role to play in reducing the amount of waste that goes to landfill. Non-recycled residual waste, by burning it under controlled conditions, will provide an important source of affordable energy, which will provide electricity and heat for thousands of homes.”
Councillor Malcolm Price, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for strategic planning, said:-
“Having heard evidence from all parties, the Inspector has upheld Veolia’s appeal. This is a disappointing result for all those who opposed the planning application. We will now need to look at our options and to consider our next steps.”
Further information
On 1 September 2010, Shropshire Council’s strategic planning committee unanimously rejected an application from Veolia Environmental Services for an energy from waste facility at Battlefield in Shrewsbury.
The application had been recommended for approval by planning officers, and was supported by Shropshire Council as the waste authority.
Veolia appealed to the Government’s Planning Inspectorate against this decision.
Shropshire Council, as a waste authority, had approved Veolia Environmental Services pursuing the planning appeal for the energy from waste facility at Battlefield.
The independent planning inspector heard Veolia’s appeal, starting on 27 September 2011 and finishing on 4 November 2011.
At the appeal hearing:
- Shropshire Council defended the decision of the planning committee
- Opponents argued their case
- Veolia argued their case
Barristers representing each side cross examined the other.
For the appeal decision click here.
