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You are here: CIWM  >  Publications  >  Latest News  >  Pickles Removes Final Hurdle For SITA UKs Cornwall Incinerator

Pickles Removes Final Hurdle For SITA UKs Cornwall Incinerator

23 May 2011

Communities secretary Eric Pickles has removed the final planning hurdle facing SITA UK's proposals to develop a £100m energy-from-waste incinerator in Cornwall

Eric Pickles, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, has now granted planning permission for the "Cornwall Energy Recovery Centre" (CERC).

The appeal was brought following the decision in March 2009 by the planning committee of the former Cornwall County Council to refuse planning permission for the CERC.

The CERC will form the focus point of SITA UK's 30-year PFI-funded contract to treat Cornwall's municipal waste.

When deciding to press ahead with the project, Cornwall council noted that dropping out of the contract would cost tens of millions of pounds, but also acknowledged that the delays in securing planning permission meant that continuing with it could also lead to additional costs, which was reiterated by Julian German, cabinet member for waste management at Cornwall council who, acknowledged that it was "clearly an emotive issue".

"The delay to the scheme means that there will be changes to the costs which were previously agreed under the 2006 Integrated Waste Management Contract. Cornwall council will now be working with SITA to negotiate the best deal for taxpayers in Cornwall," he said.

SITA UK secured an environmental permit for the proposals in December 2010.

The council again stressed that it had taken two roles in the process - both as waste disposal authority and as the planning authority responsible for deciding on the proposals.

Regarding its stance from a planning viewpoint, Mark Kaczmarek, cabinet member for planning, said "The decision to refuse planning permission for the CERC was taken by the planning committee of the former Cornwall county council.

"Cornwall council planning officers have put forward a solid defence of this decision through the appeal process and we will now note the outcome of the inquiry and move forward."

The plans have proved controversial locally, with local residents establishing the St Dennis Anti-Incinerator Group having campaigned against the proposals since 2005.

For more information visit www.sita.co.uk

Darrel Moore