A £23.5 million plans for an anaerobic digestion (AD) plant on a former mine site on York's southern edge have been given a go-ahead following the government’s decision not to put the project through a public inquiry.
The AD facility, with a capacity to process 60,000 tonnes of organic and agricultural waste per year, will produce up to 1.5MW of heat and 2.75MW of electricity, while also creating up to 30,000 tonnes of digestate each year for use on agricultural land as a biofertiliser.
Controversial plans for an anaerobic waste digestion plant and horticultural glasshouse on green belt land between Escrick, Wheldrake and Deighton faced acute public objection upon the first announcement in 2012.
According to developers Peel Environmental the plant will create 68 full time local jobs, as well as 16 extra jobs during the commissioning period and 125 construction jobs.
Richard Barker, development manager at Peel Environmental, said: “There are significant benefits that our plans will bring to the local area and we are keen to see these delivered.”
“The facility will provide an economic boost to the area, providing up to 256 jobs during construction and 56 full time positions and 50 seasonal positions during operation, with the impact of these in the region of £2.2million Gross Value Added (GVA) per year. It will also facilitate the expansion of a successful Yorkshire business.
“We are delighted that councillors have not only recognised the benefits of such a significant amount of private investment, but also the positive impact that this facility will have on the environment. It will provide 20,000 tonnes per year of carbon savings compared to sending the waste to landfill – greater than the levels of CO2 produced by city of York council. This will contribute to ambitious targets to reduce emissions and increase recycling in York and the surrounding areas.”
James Alexander, Labour leader of city of York council, said that the application approval for the facility by a cross-party planning committee was “great news for York”.
“We know this is a sensitive site and we will be encouraging residents and the developer to work together over mitigating the local impact. We look forward to working with Peel Environmental throughout the development of the new anaerobic digestion plant, which will use organic waste to produce power for about 3,500 homes,” added Mr Alexander.
Photo Source: Letsrecycle
