The Allerton Waste Recovery Park is being proposed by Spanish-owned services company AmeyCespa under a 25-year waste contract it was awarded by North Yorkshire county council and city of York council in December 2010 (see letsrecyle.com story).
Planning permission for the facility was approved in October 2012 by North Yorkshire county councils planning and regulatory functions committee.
But, the decision was subject to consultation with the secretary of state, and protestors – including the North Yorkshire Waste Action Group and Harrogate borough council – were hoping there would be a public inquiry (see letsrecycle.com story).
However, North Yorkshire county council today (January 30) received notification that the secretary of state has decided not to call the application in meaning that plans to develop the facility can progress.
The council isnow working towards financial close on its contract with AmeyCespa.
Negotiations
In a statement,the councilsaid: The council will now continue its negotiations on the final contract with AmeyCespa. Council members will then be asked to consider the contract and confirm that the project remains affordable. This is likely to take some weeks or months.
If members agree to go ahead, AmeyCespa can start to build the waste treatment facility. The AWRP is expected to be operational from mid-2016.
North Yorkshire county councillor highways chief Gareth Dadd welcomed the decision. He said that both the planning and business cases for the facility had been compelling. He commented: I am very pleased that local democracy has prevailed.
The planned location for the facility is the Allerton Quarry and landfill next to the A1M near Harrogate.
The technologies proposed include mechanical sorting and reclamation of around 20,000 tonnes of recyclable materials per year left in the waste which arrives at the facility; anaerobic digestion to treat food waste and produce electricity; and energy from waste incineration.
AmeyCespa
Commenting on the decision, a spokeswoman for AmeyCespa said:”AmeyCespa has not yet received formal notification of the Secretary of States decision but we understand our proposals will not be called in for a public inquiry.
“This decision will allow our proposals for Allerton Waste Recovery Park to move to the next stage.
“The new facility is a common sense solution for dealing with North Yorkshire and Yorks waste and will save local taxpayers millions of pounds.In addition, it will increase recycling, generate renewable electricity, create jobs and provide an economic boost for local suppliers. We fully understand the concerns of the local community and remain committed to working with residents, involving them in our proposals and answering any questions they may have.
“We now aim to begin construction of the new facility in 2013, with it starting to process waste in 2015.”
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