PLANS to build a renewable energy centre in Westbury have stalled following a demand from Wiltshire Council for further investigation of the plant’s effect on the surrounding area.
The plant, which would be built on Stephenson Road in Northacre Industrial Estate, was due for a decision from the council by 13th April.
However, the planning process has been slowed following senior planning officer Greg Lester’s request that a dedicated heritage assessment be undertaken.
In a letter he said, “If the requested information is provided by Friday 22nd May 2015, then it is feasible that the application could be presented to the 15th July 2015 meeting of the Council’s Strategic Planning Committee for determination.”
If the 22nd May deadline is not met, the 16-week time limit for a decision will proceed with any information provided. The applicants have been asked to agree to extend the deadline for a decision to 18th July 2015.
The plant, proposed by Northacre Renewable Energy, is designed to produce energy by heating former household rubbish which has been processed into solid recovered fuels by the next-door Northacre Resource Recovery Centre. It would be capable of producing an estimated 22 megawatts – enough to power 10,000 homes – and be fully operational in 2017.
When consulted, Westbury Town Council objected to the plant over concerns of pollution and heavy traffic.
To find out more about the proposed plant, search planning application 14/12003/ WCM at www.wiltshire.gov.uk.
