Lakeside EfW fate still unknown after Heathrow decision delay

The Lakeside EfW plant at Colnbrook, Berkshire, currently sits just outside the Northern boundary of Heathrow Airport. But, if the green light is given to build a third runway, the 410,000 tonnes per year capacity facility will need to be demolished and relocated.

Grundon Waste Management Ltd’s materials recovery facility, waste transfer station, clinical waste plant and offices are also located on the same landholding – all of which would also need to be demolished to make way for Heathrow expansion.

“We must develop the best possible package of measures to mitigate the impacts on local people. We will continue work on all the shortlisted locations, so that the timetable for more capacity set out by Sir Howard is met.”

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Patrick McLoughlin
Transport Secretary

Set up in 2012 to report on UK airport capacity, the independent Airports Commission recommended in July that a third runway should be constructed at the North side of Heathrow and that the EfW plant and surrounding buildings should make way for this to happen (see letsrecycle.com story).

But, following a meeting of cabinet members last night (December 10), the Department for Transport (DfT) said it wanted to carry out “more work on environmental impacts” of possible airport expansion at both Heathrow and Gatwick – work which it expects to conclude next summer.

South East

This is despite the Prime Minister previously stating that a final decision would be made before the end of 2015, although the government has now asserted that more capacity is needed in the South East, suggesting that it will opt for either Heathrow or Gatwick expansion, rather than no expansion at all.

Secretary of State for Transport, Patrick McLoughlin, said yesterday (December 10): “The case for aviation expansion is clear – but it’s vitally important we get the decision right so that it will benefit generations to come. We will undertake more work on environmental impacts, including air quality, noise and carbon.

“We must develop the best possible package of measures to mitigate the impacts on local people. We will continue work on all the shortlisted locations, so that the timetable for more capacity set out by Sir Howard is met. At the first opportunity I will make a statement to the House to make clear our plans.”

Grundon and Viridor

When contacted by letsrecycle.com, a spokeswoman for the joint venture EfW plant declined to comment this morning.

Grundon and Viridor said in July that they were in detailed discussions with Heathrow Airport and Slough borough council about plans “to ensure the long-term sustainability and continuity of the energy from waste plant at Colnbrook”.

But last month, Viridor’s director of communications, Dan Cooke, said that the company was unable to consider the possibility of Heathrow using heat off-take from the Lakeside EfW facility until the Heathrow Airport expansion question was resolved.

Lakeside EfW

Opened in 2010, the Lakeside EfW facility takes in residual waste from local businesses and a number of councils, including Slough, Wiltshire and Poole councils in Dorset, as well as a substantial tonnage for the West London Waste Authority.

The final report by the Airports Commission, chaired by Sir Howard Davies, stated in July that the EfW plant is “not of national importance” but nevertheless “plays a significant role in regional and local waste management and has a valuable capability to process clinical waste and other contaminated material”.

It recommended that the process of planning a provision of an alternative facility “should begin as soon as possible”.