CLG Grants Planning Appeal To Viridor

21 February 2011

In a very positive turn of events, the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (CLG) decided in favour of allowing Viridor to appeal to develop an Energy from Waste (EfW) plant and enhanced recycling facilities at its landfill site in Ardley, Oxfordshire. Viridor's planning application for the development of an EfW plant was earlier rejected by Oxfordshire's County Council.

Project manager, Robert Ryan, speaking on behalf of Viridor said: "The decision reflects the urgent need to provide a much needed alternative to landfill disposal. Our proposed state of the art development will provide a long-term solution to Oxfordshire's residual waste treatment needs, which is safe, robust and cost-effective."

He further added: "We will continue working with Oxfordshire County Council towards signing of the contract and look forward to starting preparation work to deliver a first class facility"

The EfW plant once built can accommodate and process 300,000 tonnes of residual, non-recyclable waste with substantial environmental benefits including landfill diversion of up to 95 percent of waste and the generation of up to 24MW of electricity to be supplied to the National Grid. Further, the local economy stands to gain with the creation of 40 permanent jobs and many more during the construction phase.

Viridor is looking to commence construction of the facility as early as spring 2011, and the development phase will span for an estimated 3 years. Viridor is aiming to see its facility fully operational by summer of 2014.

Krishna Buddhiraju