WILTSHIRE Council's Strategic Planning Committee will meet this morning to vote on plans to build a £200 million energy from waste incinerator in Westbury.

It comes after Michael Gove, the Minister for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, refused to ‘call in’ the plans by Northacre Renewable Energy Ltd following a request by local MP Dr Andrew Murrison.

Dr Murrison said the decision was "surprising" and "very, very disappointing", but added that "the process was not over yet."

The meeting is taking place at 10.30am in County Hall, Trowbridge.

Campaign

The minister’s decision is yet another blow for campaigners who have protested strongly against the proposed new facility since before Wiltshire Council granted planning permission in 2019.

The decision means that once the EA grants a full environmental operating licence work is likely to begin on building the incinerator on the Northacre Industrial Park.

The EA is expected to make a final decision after the second public consultation on the operating permit closes on April 22.

No intervention

Mr Gove says his general approach is “not to interfere” with the decision-making process of local councils on planning matters.

“The government’s position is that these matters are generally best determined locally, by local councils that know their own area best, rather than by central government," he said.

“The Secretary of State has considered your request and has decided, having had regard to the call-in policy, not to call in this application.”

But Mr Gove notes the MP’s concerns, and those of his constituents, relating to the environmental impact of the proposed incinerator on the operations of the neighbouring Arla Foods dairy products factory which employs 200 people.

“The relevant pollution control authority in this case is the Environment Agency and the relevant pollution regime is an environmental permit which the proposed energy from waste facility requires in order to operate.”

Chippenham Town Council also pledged £1,000 to help a legal challenge fight against the proposed incinerator.

Planning Committee

Planning officers will recommend that the council's strategic planning committee endorse its original decision - before it was sent to the secretary of state - to grant planning permission subject to conditions.

The committee had originally considered the application in June 2021, and there have been some changed circumstances and new material considerations since then, but the report says that there have been no changes that should lead the committee to conclude differently in its assessment of the application.

The report says: "Having taken into account all relevant new material considerations together with the environmental information previously considered, the recommendation remains to grant planning permission for the proposed development, subject to the conditions as before."

To read the report in full, click here.