Campaigners' joy as £150m incinerator plan rejected

A £150m incinerator plan that prompted more than 1,000 objections and a petition has been rejected by councillors.

R&P Clean Power Limited wanted to build the plant in Keith Willshee Way, off the A444, on the outskirts of Swadlincote in Derbyshire.

At a planning committee meeting in Matlock, the developer said it would generate power for 36,000 homes and meet a need in the county to reduce waste being sent to landfill.

Dr Tracey Wond, who spoke in opposition to the plan, told the BBC: "It's been a long journey, but we're delighted."

Councillors on Derbyshire County Council's planning committee said the significant scale and height... would create "significant harm" to the visual amenity to the area.

The proposals were said to be "contrary to planning policy and with South Derbyshire's Local Plan", which led to the decision to reject the application.

The announcement prompted applause and tears from those objecting to the development.

The scheme itself had spoken opposition from a number of residents in the Swadlincote area as well as two ward councillors who represent the town on the county council.

They raised a number of objections, including the size and scale of the development, the impact on local roads, and spoke of the environmental harm the development would bring.

Dr Wond, the campaign coordinator, said she was "elated" at the decision.

"We knew this was the wrong place for an incinerator - it's a wildlife site; it's had nearly 3,500 people sign a petition against it," she said.

"You hear about an application and you don't think much of it - I started digging around, and the more I did that, the more I was horrified.

"For people living closest to the site, this whole process has been torture for them.

"This has plagued many people - it's been a real concern for people."

The applicant told the meeting the development would stop up to 230,000 tonnes of waste being sent to landfills or facilities in Europe.

They added the facility would create 39 "high-skilled, full-time jobs in the green economy".

But John Pritchard, who spoke against the development, said there were "more jobs in the local garden centre".

A spokesperson for R&P Clean Power said: “We are shocked at [the] decision. This £200m private sector investment into the state-of-the-art Swadlincote Energy Recovery Facility on a former railyard and coal transfer centre was recommended by officers for approval.

“Our facility will use proven and reliable technology and will create a clean, safe and secure supply of renewable energy, powering tens of thousands of homes each year, diverting the waste that can’t be recycled at the adjacent MRF from landfill to create a low carbon source of heat and power for local homes and businesses.

“There were no objections from South Derbyshire’s own environmental health officer, the Environment Agency or highways authorities, and Derbyshire Wildlife Trust, the county ecologist, National Forest and Natural England raised no objections on biodiversity matters.

“This reflects the rigorous and robust assessment that has been undertaken of the application and proposed development and, as such, we do not believe there are grounds for refusal and will appeal.”

On the prospect of appeal, Dr Wond added: "We are of course really concerned... but only a few months ago the government paused all of its incinerator plans and threatened to revoke permits that have been made recently, so we really hope and urge [this] government to continue that because Wales and Scotland have done this."

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