The 380,000 tonnes-per-year capacity site at New Barnfield was turned down by Communities Secretary Greg Clark in July following a reassessment of the facility (see letsrecycle.com story).
The decision follows three years of political wrangling over the site, with Welwyn Hatfield borough council and local MP Grant Shapps rallying against its construction on green belt land.
The plant, which won planning permission in 2012, was called in and rejected last year by then Secretary of State Eric Pickles.
The project suffered a further set back in October when Defra opted to remove its PFI funding support for the project, withdrawing £115 million of credits that had been allocated for the facility in February 2009.
Mr Pickles’ decision was overturned by the High Court which claimed there were ‘very special circumstances’ to allow the recovery plant to be developed on the land. DCLG was then forced to reassess the planning application, but upheld its previous decision to reject the plan.
A Veolia spokesman has now said: “Following a legal review of the decision made by the Secretary of State in July to refuse planning permission for the New Barnfield Recycling and Energy Recovery Facility, and after consideration by our Board, Veolia will not seek to further challenge that refusal.”
Contract
The decision deals a blow to Veolia’s £800 million residual waste treatment contract with Hertfordshire county council, which was signed in 2011.
New Barnfield was expected to take in the majority of municipal refuse generated in the county over a 25-year period as part of the county council’s Waste Site Allocations 2011-2026 Plan.
A Hertfordshire County Council spokesman said: “The council has noted the decision of Veolia not to challenge the refusal of planning permission made by the Secretary of State in July 2015 and will, in due course, discuss with the local planning authority the future use of its holdings at New Barnfield.”
While the county council told letsrecycle.com it was ‘too early’ to know how it will proceed following the loss of the facility, it had previously asked Veolia for an alternative residual waste treatment option following Mr Pickles’ initial rejection. The contractor is understood to have submitted alternative plans since July.
And, as a result of delays to the project, Herts has already secured waste residual waste treatment contracts until 2018, which it has the option to extend for an additional three years.
Alternative
Councillor John Dean, leader of Welwyn Hatfield borough council, said he was not opposed to energy from waste ‘in principle’ but believed there are more appropriate solutions to managing the county’s waste.
He added: “This has brought a final conclusion to a long battle. Officers and members of the council and many, many residents have campaigned tirelessly to oppose the incinerator at New Barnfield, and they can now take some satisfaction in finally achieving a positive result for the borough.”
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