The regulator has opened a further consultation on its draft decision to grant a permit to Fornax (North East) for a high-temperature thermal treatment facility at Merchant Park, Newton Aycliffe.
The consultation will run until 1 December 2026, giving members of the public an opportunity to review the draft decision and permit documents and submit comments before a final decision is made.
The EA said it had reviewed comments and evidence submitted during a previous public consultation last summer and, having considered the issues raised, could not identify grounds to refuse the application at this stage.
However, the regulator has stressed that it has not yet made a final decision.
The draft decision document explains how the EA reached its position and how it has considered responses to the earlier consultation. The draft permit sets out the conditions Fornax would need to meet if permission to operate is granted.
Gary Wallace, Area Environment Manager in the North East, said: “We recognise the increased local interest around this proposed facility and have carefully considered all the information and consultation comments.
“We will only grant the permit if we are satisfied the application meets all legal requirements and provides a high level of protection to the environment and human health.
“It’s important the public have the opportunity to read the draft documents and provide comments. We’ll then make our final decision once we’ve reviewed consultation responses.”
North East energy from waste facility
The proposed facility received planning consent in December 2022 and is being developed on a brownfield site at Aycliffe Business Park in County Durham.
Subject to the EA granting an environmental permit, the plant would be able to treat up to 10,500 tonnes of waste a year and generate 6MW of energy.
Ian Jones, Fornax Chief Executive Officer, added: “We welcome the initial announcement from the Environment Agency that it’s minded to grant a permit to operate.
“We must now allow the natural permitting process to run its course before a final decision is taken.”
Around 70% of the waste treated at the facility is expected to be clinical waste from hospitals, laboratories and care homes across the North East and North Yorkshire. The remaining 30% would comprise hazardous waste, largely from industrial settings in the same region.
The facility would be authorised to accept clinical, commercial and industrial hazardous waste for incineration using high-temperature thermal treatment.
According to Fornax, there is currently no high-temperature thermal treatment plant in North East England. It said much of the region’s clinical and hazardous waste is therefore treated at older incineration facilities, sometimes hundreds of miles away, including in Southampton and Slough.
Fornax aims to develop a network of smaller-scale facilities across the UK, designed to meet regional demand for clinical and industrial waste treatment and achieve high R1 energy recovery standards.
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