The approval was granted to the company, a joint venture between the Bioenergy Infrastructure Group and the Hills Group, by planning inspector Stephen Normington in a decision handed down on 20 February.
Northacre had lodged an appeal against Wiltshire council, over the local authority’s “failure to determine the application within an agreed timeframe” last year. The appeal came shortly before Wiltshire rejected the application in July 2022 (see letsrecycle.com story).
This rejection arrived after the council first approved the gasification facility in 2015. It then rejected the 2018 application to alter the technology, before accepting it in 2021. It then decided to review the application last year, citing that legislation had changed, before rejecting it again.
When rejecting the application, the council argued, among other things, that the 243,000 tonne plant would process more waste than generated in Wiltshire. “As a result, the proposal fails to accord with the proximity principle for the transport and management of waste.”
It also argued that legislation had changed, which meant it’s previous decision was out of date.
This represents the end of the consenting process for the proposed facility
- Northacre
Appeal
However, this was reversed on appeal by Mr Normington, who said: “I do not consider that the policies which are most important for determining the appeal are out-of-date.”
He added in the 74 page ruling that there is a need for the facility because the feedstock for the plant “would comprise non-hazardous residual wastes that are currently either being consigned to landfill or subject to thermal treatment elsewhere, typically in EfW facilities located in and outside of the UK in mainland Europe.”
Mr Normington concluded that “based on the evidence before me and all other matters raised, I conclude that the appeal should be allowed”.
A spokesperson Northacre, told letsrecycle.com: “This represents the end of the consenting process for the proposed facility. NREL development partners will take the time to consider our next steps to divert local waste from landfill and provide low-carbon energy to the homes of Wiltshire.”
Inquiry
The inquiry was on 22–24 November 2022 and 5-8 December 2022. A site visit was also made on 5 December 2022. At the inquiry an application for costs was made by Northacre Renewable Energy Limited against Wiltshire Council. This application is the subject of a separate decision.
The decision also said the government’s aim of halving residual waste by 2042 will also not impact this facility. On 31 January 2023, after the close of the inquiry, the government published the ‘Environmental Improvement Plan’ which sets out a number of targets relevant to waste management.
However, the ruling said: “Both parties were aware of some of the proposed draft targets contained therein during the inquiry and these were reflected in relevant aspects of evidence. Consequently, I do not consider the need to re-open the Inquiry in light of the publication of the Environmental Improvement Plan and I have taken this into account.”
Subscribe for free