Construction is soon to start on Viridors proposed energy-from-waste (EfW) facility at Beddington Lane after Sutton borough council announced that it had formally issued planning permission for the plant last week (March 14).
The planned 275,000 tonnes per year capacity Beddington Energy Recovery Facility will be built on Viridors existing landfill site and is expected to begin taking household waste from four south London boroughs in 2017 when the landfill site closes after 16 years.
Estimated to cost 200 million, the plant forms part of the waste management companys 990 million, 25-year contract with the South London Waste Partnership signed in November 2012 (see letsrecycle.com story).
Starting in spring 2014, the construction and commissioning period is estimated to be three years, with around 95% of waste delivered to the plant then set to be diverted from landfill. The process will generate 26MW of electricity to the national grid enough to power around 30,000 homes.
Viridor was originally given the go-ahead for the development in May 2013, but this was subject to the completion of a section 106 legal agreement which stipulated the inclusion of environmental and community benefits, which see the company provide 2,315,500 to the local area.
As part of this 106 agreement, therefore, Viridor is to: set up a 975,000 community fund for local projects; set up a combined heat and power (CHP) working group to assess the potential for the plant to provide heat to the local area; establish an education and visitor centre at the plant; turn the landfill site into an 86-hectare country park with a full-time wildlife warden; and provide funding for off-site planting, air quality monitoring and improving public access from the restored land to the facility.
This agreement comes after opposition to the plant from campaign group Stop the Incinerator, which previously claimed the plant would have a negative impact on air quality as well as being built on green belt land (see letsrecycle.com story).
‘We have been careful to make sure that we get the right deal for our residents. That is why we have spent nine months securing 2.3m for Beddington which will help us to improve the area alongside residents.’
Sutton borough councillor Jayne McCoy
Milestone
Speaking on behalf of Viridor, head of development projects Robert Ryan said: This is another milestone in the development of this much needed alternative to landfill disposal in south London. Our state of the art facility will provide a safe, robust, cost-effective and long-term solution to the South London Waste Partnerships residual waste treatment needs.
We will continue engaging with the local community and elected representatives to ensure a smooth construction phase. We look forward to starting preparation work to deliver this first class facility.
In addition, Viridor said the development will create around 40 permanent jobs as well as hundreds of jobs during construction.
Sutton
Sutton borough councillor Jayne McCoy, chair of the housing, economy and business committee, said: With our landfill in Beddington at saturation point, it is clear that the ERF offers Sutton and our partner boroughs the opportunity to dispose of waste in a cleaner way by reducing CO2 emissions and generating green energy for homes and businesses in the process.
We have been careful to make sure that we get the right deal for our residents. That is why we have spent nine months securing 2.3m for Beddington which will help us to improve the area alongside residents.
She added: By turning a landfill eyesore into a wildlife habitat, part of which can be accessed by the public, we are leading the way when it comes to promoting sustainable living. This ERF means we can reduce our dependency on fossil fuels, manage our waste locally and unlock millions of pounds of investment for the area.
South London Waste Partnership is made up of the London boroughs of Croydon, Kingston, Merton and Sutton.
Subscribe for free