Viridor appeal victory

Viridor has not one but now two planning permissions for an energy from waste (EfW) facility at its landfill site in Ardley, Oxfordshire.


The company had its initial planning application rejected by Oxfordshire County Council but a second one accepted, which imposed restrictions on some operations.

Eric Picles, secretary of state for Communities and Local Government (CLG), accepted Viridor’s appeal against the initial planning rejection but did not lift the restrictions the council had set.

He did, however, not refuse the company’s request to be allowed to take waste from outside Oxfordshire, a condition the council was seeking to impose.

The EfW facility will have a capacity to process 300,000 tonnes of residual, non-recyclable waste and will generate up to 24MW of electricity, to be supplied to the National Grid.

Viridor, project manager, Robert Ryan 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.”

The company will now work with Oxforshire County Council to sign a contract for the works to go ahead.

Alison Brown

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