Derby City Council and Derbyshire County Council confirmed that a procurement exercise to identify a partner for the facility on Sinfin Lane has now formally ended, with no contract awarded “at this time”.
Waste firms Biffa and Thalia had been invited to progress to the Competitive Dialogue phase of the process in March 2025, after being identified as suitably qualified bidders.
According to the councils, both companies “engaged positively” throughout the process and worked with officers to clarify and refine proposals to operate the existing facility.
However, despite feedback indicating that the technology at the plant was viable and that the site could be repaired, the councils said agreement could not be reached on the commercial terms of a contract.
Neither bidder ultimately submitted a final tender.
Unclear future for the Sinfin site
The councils confirmed that they would not extend the procurement process or continue negotiations and will instead undertake what they described as a “rapid review” of future options for the project.
A report setting out recommendations is expected to be presented to both councils’ Cabinets later this year.
In a joint statement, Leader of Derby City Council, Councillor Nadine Peatfield and Leader of Derbyshire County Council, Councillor Alan Graves said: “Our top priority is making sure that every pound of council tax-payers’ money is accounted for and spent wisely.
“We were unable to agree terms with the bidders that meet the councils’ requirements and must now focus on how to ensure that future decisions about the facility and our future waste disposal requirements deliver best value for Derby and Derbyshire residents.”
No decisions have yet been made about the long-term future of the facility.
In the meantime, preservation and maintenance works at the site will continue to ensure it remains safe and secure.
Current arrangements are expected to remain in place until at least the end of August 2026.
Venture began in 2009
The two councils jointly own the Sinfin waste treatment centre and reaffirmed a commitment first made in February 2023 to work together to bring the facility into operation.
Under the procurement timetable, bidders were shortlisted in February 2025, with a contract expected to be awarded by December 2025.
The facility had been due to be commissioned in June 2028.
The Sinfin plant has faced a long history since Resource Recovery Solutions (RRS) – a joint venture between Interserve and Renewi – signed a 27-year contract worth around £900 million with the councils in 2009.
The agreement included operating the 190,000 tonne-per-year waste treatment facility in Derby.
However, the councils terminated the contract early in August 2019 following a series of operational problems at the plant, including excessive odours and technical faults.
At the time, both authorities said it would be “more cost-effective for Derby and Derbyshire council taxpayers” to pursue alternative arrangements for managing household waste over the following decades.
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