Proposed incinerator is granted environmental permit

A planned energy-from-waste incinerator which could burn up to 260,000 tonnes of waste a year has been given a permit to operate.

The Environment Agency (EA) said it had granted a permit to MVV Environmental Ltd for the proposed facility at Canford Resource Park near Bournemouth.

A meeting of Bournemouth Christchurch and Poole (BCP) council's planning committee on Thursday is due to decide whether the project can go ahead.

The EA said it had considered the responses to a public consultation when granting the permit which covers the management and operation of the plant along with monitoring of emissions.

The planned facility would burn non-recyclable and non-hazardous domestic, commercial and industrial waste to generate electricity.

It would provide 28.5MW of electricity to businesses at Churchill Magna Business Park as well as to Arena Way and Magna Road.

A public consultation by the EA was held last year.

A statement by the agency said: "This permit will ensure that robust levels of environmental protection are applied.

"Our permitting decision process is objective and based on the applicant demonstrating they will meet the legal requirements outlined in the permit."

The EA permit is separate to the council granting planning permission, although the plant could not operate until both have been granted.

The area is already an active waste management site, alongside a former landfill.

Thirty two people would be employed if the project goes ahead, according to the planning application.

The council said 469 objections to the scheme had been received during the planning process.

They included objections to building on green belt land, issues over transporting waste into the site and removing residue, as well as air pollution.

Critics also pointed to the emissions of CO2 from the plant and that waste incinerators were considered the "dirtiest" way the UK generates power.

The proposal is due to be discussed by BCP Council's planning committee on Thursday.

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