Cornwall incinerator gets go-ahead as Pickles upholds appeal

Local Government Secretary Eric Pickles has upheld an appeal by SITA to build an energy-from- waste plant in St Austell after it was refused planning permission by Cornwall Council.


Building work for the incinerator will now go ahead after Pickles approved plans prepared by consultancy firm Terence O’Rourke on behalf of the waste contractor.

The facility will treat residual waste and recover energy from it, which will be used to generate electricity and provide heat to the adjacent china clay dryers. Metals will be recycled from the bottom ash and cured on site before being taken away for use as a secondary aggregate.

During the process, the proposals had to overcome complex planning, ecological and visual impact issues. After the planning application was refused, Terence O’Rourke assisted SITA in preparing the appeal, which began in March 2010.

Terence O’Rourke’s managing director, Tim Hancock, said: “Waste infrastructure projects such as these remain controversial with local communities.

“The Secretary of State’s decision highlights the increasing importance of stakeholder engagement and preparing a robust, evidence-based planning submission that can withstand close public scrutiny at inquiry.”

Maxine Perella

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