NORTHACRE Renewable Energy said it is "pleased" that its proposal to change the technology for the already consented energy from waste facility at Northacre Industrial Park has been approved, subject to conditions, by Wiltshire Council’s strategic planning committee.

The company said the Northacre facility is strategically important to Wiltshire’s sustainable future and will turn 243,000 tonnes of the region’s commercial and industrial residual waste into low carbon energy - enough to power 54,000 homes and improve the resilience of the local electricity supply network.

In addition, the project represents a £200 million investment in the local economy and a new source of employment including many highly-skilled permanent roles – forming part of the Government’s drive to “build back better” in a post Covid-19 economy.

Alex Young, NREL director, said: “There is now an opportunity to build a state-of-the-art facility which addresses the pressing need for a sustainable long-term solution, to non-recyclable residual waste in Wiltshire, whilst delivering vital environmental and economic benefits.

“We are hugely grateful to the Strategic Planning Committee for this decision, which followed the advice of the council’s Planning Department and took account of the local authority’s legal advice that concluded that our proposal would be consistent with local and national policy.

“We now look forward to advancing the environmental permit determination process and will continue to engage constructively with the Environment Agency, the community and other stakeholders in that process.”

The project is now the subject of a request for referral to The Secretary of State, to determine whether the application meets the criteria for a ‘call in’.

“We will assist with any queries regarding our plans for the development, from the Secretary of State and the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government as they assess the proposals.”