West Sussex approves circular technology park

The new site at Ford will utilize technologies that process up to 200,000 tonnes of material per year and make a significant contribution towards West Sussex county council’s commitment to ‘zero waste to landfill’ by 2030.

The technology park, which will redevelop a 6.5 hectare brownfield site, will include a materials recovery facility, enabling 60,000 tonnes of waste materials such as paper, glass, cardboard and metals to be recycled.

The facility will also feature an advanced energy-from-waste plant. It is thought the plant will generate enough energy to power 29,000 homes and neighbouring industrial properties.

Speaking after the planning permission was granted, Grundon’s deputy chairman Neil Grundon said: “We are delighted with the announcement that the development of Grundon’s new Circular Technology Park can now take place. We strongly believe that the new facility will champion the recycling and recovery technologies.

“Our society is in the process of going through a cultural shift, where we are moving away from being a throwaway society to one which embraces the notion of a circular economy, where all wastes are viewed as resources. ”

The planned diversion of waste from landfill will prevent the equivalent of 28,500 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions per annum. This is comparable to removing 13,000 cars from the road each year, according to Grundon.

The development is expected to provide 200 construction jobs and 60 direct role jobs at the materials recycling facility and the energy-from-waste plant.

Andrew Short, estates director for Grundon added: “The Circular Technology Park will make good use of a brownfield industrial site and will create new jobs in the area, both during construction and operation.

“By giving consent at Ford, West Sussex Council has provided the opportunity for Grundon to develop a strategically important facility in the county, which will be able to meet the council’s ambition of zero to landfill. Importantly this will focus on the commercial and industrial markets, promoting recovery of usable materials as well as treatment of residuals to create energy.” 

Matt Field