Plans for a 65,000-tonne energy-from-waste facility that will
generate heat and power from domestic refuse were approved, subject
to conditions, by Peterborough City Council’s planning and
environmental protection committee on Tuesday 24 November
2009. Government Office for the East has decided not to
‘call-in’ the application for review.
The proposed facility – to be built on the site of
Peterborough’s existing materials recycling facility in Fourth
Drove in the Eastern Industry area of Peterborough – is part of a
long-term waste management solution that minimises reliance on
diminishing landfill space.
The planning permission acknowledges that the facility will have
spare capacity in the early years of operation and stipulates that
at least 75 per cent of the waste comes from Peterborough,
Cambridgeshire and a 50-kilometre radius of the facility.
Under a policy adopted in February 2007, the city council aims to
raise recycling and composting of household and garden materials to
over 65 per cent by 2020 and to use residual, non-recycled waste as
fuel to generate energy. The city council has already applied
to the Environment Agency for an environment permit, which is
needed before the facility can begin operating.
Meanwhile, officers are evaluating the credentials of companies
that have expressed interest in building and operating the
energy-from-waste facility. A shortlist of potential firms
will be drawn up and detailed negotiations will lead to the
selection of a preferred contractor. The new facility could
begin operating in early 2014.
A report to the planning committee said the proposed
steel-framed ‘landmark’ building would be clad with grey and brown
metal sheeting with translucent panels at the front. It would
measure 96-metres by 37-metres and 35-metres high with 60-metre
chimney.
While the facility would operate 24/7 it would be restricted to
taking waste deliveries from 6 am to 8 pm on Mondays to Saturdays
and from 8 am to 4 pm on Sundays. It would be capable of generating
34,000 MWh/year of electricity, of which 28,000 MWh/year would be
available for export to the national grid, and 127,000 MWh/year of
heat with 102,000 MWh/year available for export to nearby
businesses.
It would produce around 13,000 tonnes annually of ‘bottom ash’
that could be used as secondary aggregate or landfilled. A
flue treatment system would neutralise the acidity and remove
around 3,000 tonnes annually of fly ash that could be used in
chemical neutralisation processes or landfilled.
A wide range of organisations representing health, environment,
transport, wildlife and other development interests were consulted
and over 5,000 neighbouring occupiers were invited to comment on
the proposals. There were 30 letters of objection and 17
letters of support.
The report said that concerns over odour, dust, noise and litter
would be satisfied because the building would be enclosed and the
combustion process would draw air into the building.
Important archaeological remains at the nearby Flag Fen Bronze
Age Centre will be protected under a planning condition requiring a
legal agreement for monitoring groundwater conditions. Water
levels must be monitored for at least six months prior to
construction and for at least five years following commencement of
operations.