Revised plans by Northacre Renewable Energy to operate a £200 million waste from energy incinerator in Westbury look to have cleared the latest hurdle.

The Environment Agency says it is “minded” to issue the Swindon-based joint venture company with an operating permit for the controversial proposed new facility.

It follows a review of more than 600 comments and evidence for NREL to operate an incinerator and burn non-hazardous waste and generate energy at Northacre Industrial Estate.

‘Minded to’ means the Environment Agency is satisfied the appropriate measures are in place to operate the plant without causing harm to the environment and human health.

It has also opened a new public consultation, with two documents published, on which objectors and supporters can comment until April 22.

The company is a joint venture by Hills Group Ltd in Swindon and Bioenergy Infrastructure Group, a UK independent power producer specialising in energy-from-waste and biomass facilities.

READ MORE: Westbury Town Council approves £100k fighting fund to battle waste incinerator scheme

In a statement, NREL said: “We are pleased to confirm that the Environment Agency (EA) have issued a draft approval document for the Environmental Permit required to operate the Northacre energy from waste facility.

“There will now be a further consultation period which closes on April 22, before the EA make their final decision.

“Information on this consultation period is now available on the EA’s online portal, Citizen Space, which can be accessed here.

“When granting an Environmental Permit, the EA will impose emission limits, which the facility will be required to comply with but which will also be subject to review and revision, in line with changing legislation or industry requirements.

"The Northacre facility has never been more important to Wiltshire's sustainable future. The project represents a £200 million investment in the local economy and a major new source of employment including many highly-skilled permanent roles.

“In addition, the facility addresses the pressing need for a sustainable long-term solution, to non-recyclable residual waste in Wiltshire, by reducing landfill’s contribution to climate change.”

READ MORE: Protesters urge call-in for NREL plans

So far, South Wiltshire MP Dr Andrew Murrison, 16 local councils, the Westbury Gasification Action Group/No Westbury Incinerator, and hundreds of local residents have objected to the scheme since Wiltshire Council gave permission on June 17, 2019 for it to be built.

Revised plans were passed by Wiltshire Council in June last year despite ongoing protests by campaigners objecting to the incinerator. They gave NREL permission to change the technology from advanced thermal treatment gasification to moving grate combustion.

Dr Murrison and local councils are now pinning their hopes on a request for Michael Gove, the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, to determine whether the application meets the criteria for a ‘call in’.