Norfolk County Council give go ahead for power and recycling plant

Norfolk County Council have voted in favour of plans which could see the building of a new £500 million power and recycling facility in Saddlebow, Kings Lynn.

If the plans go ahead, the Willows Power & Recycling Centre would utilise Energy from Waste (EfW) technology to generate heat and power from rubbish. It has been estimated that the facility would prevent 250,000 tonnes of waste being sent to landfill each year.

Councillors voted nine against four, with two abstentions, at the planning meeting last Friday (June 29). Graham Plant, Cabinet Member for Planning and Transportation, stated that the committee had rigorously examined the application, and following “a full and frank debate” they chose to accept the planning officers’s recommendations.

“The committee was satisfied that officers had addressed all relevant considerations and agreed that planning permission should be granted”, said Plant.

Plans for the controversial site – which the council say could provide enough energy to power 36,000 homes – now await approval from the Secretary of State, Eric Pickles, in addition to a full permit from the Environment Agency. In spite of this, Cabinet Member for Environment and Waste, Bill Borrett, expressed his confidence in the eventual outcome, saying: “This is another step on the way and I am relieved that after detailed consideration the Planning Committee have decided to accept the recommendation to grant planning permission.”

"I believe that this proposal has been subjected to the most intensive scrutiny, by the Planning Process, the Public, the Environment Agency and DEFRA, which has approved the largest grant Norfolk has received for a single project. I have been very keen that we do everything by the book, so I welcome the Secretary of State's interest”, added Borrett.

The decision has caused anger among some local residents, who believe that emissions from the proposed site could pose health risks.  Many have questioned whether the facility would adequately deal with the area’s waste. Nearby councils have also expressed similar concerns.

Citing Health Protection Agency research, the companies behind the plans, Cory Environmental and Wheelabrator Technologies, strenuously denied that modern incinerators pose a risk to public health, and stated that any impact on local air pollution levels would be minimal.

Further details on the plant can be found on Norfolk Council’s website.