The incinerator is being proposed by Riverside Resource Recovery (RRRL) Ltd – a subsidiary of Cory Environmental – for a site at Norman Road, Belvedere, on the River Thames.
 An artist's impression of the proposed Belvedere plant |
If commissioned, the plant would have the capacity to treat on average 585,000 tonnes of waste each year over a 30-year period, although the maximum capacity will be 835,000 tonnes. The 72MW plant would be used to generate enough energy to supply the electricity requirements of over 66,000 homes.
Proponents argue the facility is urgently needed, since a major landfill site taking London's waste is due to close in 2007.
A lengthy public inquiry was already carried out during 2003 for the Belvedere plant, after which the planning inspector recommended that the project be allowed to go ahead.
However, earlier this year then-Secretary of State Patricia Hewitt refused to take a decision over the plant, calling for a new inquiry (see letsrecycle.com story).
The current inquiry is being held at the Marriott Hotel in Bexleyheath and will look particularly closely at how the proposed plant fits in with newly-published government policies on waste and the London Plan, as well as how the project might affect local road and river traffic.
Evidence
Inquiry inspector Keith Smith is expected to hear evidence from a range of organisations including Cory Environmental – which is hoping to supply waste for the plant from its Western Riverside Waste Authority Contract – and local council Bexley, which is opposed to the plant on the grounds it would burn waste from outside the borough.
Other organisations likely to give evidence include the Mayor of London, the Greater London Authority, the Port of London Authority and the Cross London Rail Link Ltd.
Local groups that have expressed an interest in giving evidence include Belvedere and District Campaign Against Pollution (BADCAP), Saints Residents Association, Drake Point and Corral Heights Residents and the Bexley LA21 and Natural Environment Focus Group.
Mayor
Written evidence sent to the first Belvedere inquiry by the office of the London Mayor, Ken Livingstone, said: “The Mayor accepts that the proposed new facility will move London as a whole towards greater regional self-sufficiency in managing its waste in the short term.”
”A new mass burn facility is unnecessary to deal with waste arisings in London either now or before 2020. “
– Mayor of London's office
However, the original statement went on to state that the plant could be a threat to longer-term plans for recycling and composting. In a new statement for the re-opened inquiry, the Mayor says a new study confirmed his contention that “a new mass burn facility is unnecessary to deal with waste arisings in London either now or before 2020”.
Cory
Waste management firm Cory is hoping to supply waste for the Belvedere plant by river transport from the WRWA boroughs of central London.
In his evidence for the re-opened inquiry, Cory director of planning John Boldon will argue that there has been no change in circumstances that led the planning inspector in the original inquiry to recommend a green light for the incinerator.
” With the passage of almost two years, the position within the sector of London for which RRRL wishes to provide treatment capacity becomes more acute “
– John Boldon, Cory
Furthermore, Mr Boldon warned: “With the passage of almost two years, the position within the sector of London for which RRRL wishes to provide treatment capacity becomes more acute and the need for new waste management capacity becomes more urgent.”
Cory's main landfill site for handling London's waste – at Mucking in Essex – is due to close in 2007. If the RRRL plant is turned down, Cory could have to relinquish its 30-year waste management contract with the WRWA.
Bexley
The London borough of Bexley is to argue that since the original planning inquiry London's Crossrail transport project has been given the go-ahead, which would affect the Belvedere site. Spoil from the excavation of the central London underground line is to be taken by road to the Norman Road site to be loaded onto ships.
Martin Able, a manager in Bexley's transport and traffic services division, has provided written evidence suggesting that the operation loading Crossrail material onto ships at Belvedere would impact on the construction of the incinerator.
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Mr Able warns in his evidence that the loading of ships for the Crossrail project would present potential navigational conflicts with Cory barges taking waste into the RRRL incinerator.
The public inquiry is allocated to run until September 23.
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