The company is proposing the new facility at its existing Waterbeach waste management park, which if approved would be used to generate energy from household and commercial waste. This would be either in the form of electricity, heat or a mix of both.
As part of the proposal, the company claimed more than 300 jobs will be created.
Amey’s Environmental Services managing director, Rob Edmondson, said: “This is an exciting opportunity for us to create a sustainable waste management park in Cambridgeshire and the facility will complement a range of existing technologies and processes already in place at Waterbeach.”
He added: “It signifies continuing investment in our waste treatment capability in Cambridgeshire, allowing us reduce the volume of waste being landfilled, as well as create enough electricity to power the equivalent of 63,000 homes.”
Consultation
The planning application has been submitted to Cambridgeshire County Council’s Planning Authority following a community consultation held by Amey, which included events and meetings for local residents.
As part of the application, Amey released a summary of the community consultation which detailed some of the responses from local residents.
These included concerns on emissions, which Amey said would be within limits and regulated by the Environment Agency.
Concerns were also raised about likely stack height, which Amey said would be 80 metres high.
The next steps will involve the authority validating the application, before the documents are made public and the authority’s own consultation is held with residents.
According to the proposals, the facility would have a maximum capacity of 250,000 tonnes per year. The buildings would range in height from 12 to 42 metres, with a stack of 80 metres.
Range of processes
Currently the site houses a range of waste processes and technologies, including recycling, composting, landfill and mechanical biological treatment.
“The views of the local community are very important and, as a result of feedback, we’ve been able to make some changes to the design of the building, including giving it a curved roof and a colour scheme which better fits the local surroundings,” Edmondson added.
“We’re also proposing landscape improvements around the facility, which would create a Fen-like environment and increase biodiversity.”
The application can be viewed here.
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