Allington Waste
Management Facility
Community Liaison Group Presentation
4th April 2017
Overview
• Background to the Scheme
• The Proposal
• Planning and Environmental Assessment
• Next Steps
• Q&A
Background to the Scheme
The Site and Context
Planning History
• Planning application submitted in 1998
• Planning consent granted on 31 July 2000,
subject to 29 Conditions and a S.106 Legal
Agreement
• Numerous amendments to approved scheme
between 2002 – 2006
• Commissioning carried out during 2006 -2008
• The Allington Waste Management Facility was
completed / became operational in late 2008
Planning Conditions 2 and 12
• Condition 2 seeks removal of the facility and the
site’s restoration, within 30 years from the date
of the planning permission (by 31 July 2030).
The reason for the Condition is:
“In order to allow the need for this type of facility at this
location to be re-examined in the light of future alternative
waste management options coming forward.”
• Site Restoration Scheme – Agreed in Relation to
Condition 12: Restoration and Aftercare
Approved Restoration Scheme
Allington Waste Management
Facility: Key Facts
• Treats 500,000 tonnes of residual waste annually, much of
which is through a Residual Waste Contract with Kent CC diverting waste from landfill.
• Generates 43MW of electrical power of which 34MW is
exported to the National Grid. At least 50% (17MW) is
classed as renewable energy.
• In 2016 the facility exported 223,973MWhrs of electricity
which is enough to supply around 45,700 homes.
• Includes a waste transfer station for 24,000 tonnes per
year of clean recyclables and food waste.
• Produces an aggregate for use as building materials
annually.
• Directly employs around 100 staff.
The Proposals
What are we Applying For?
•
The proposed development seeks the permanent retention of the
existing facility beyond its currently permitted limit of July 2030
•
The proposals are seeking a new planning consent for the
Allington WMF, based upon the terms of the current planning
permission, but including for the following amendments:
•
—
Removal of Condition 2 (time limit)
—
Removal of Condition 14 (site restoration – irrelevant
following removal of condition 2)
—
Removal of Condition 15 (aftertercare following restoration irrelevant following removal of conditions 2 & 14)
The planning application does not seek to amend either the
operation or built form of the facility
The Facility
Why are we Doing it and Why
Now?
•
•
Allington WMF is the strategic facility for the treatment /
management of residual waste in Kent and there is an identified
need for the facility beyond 2030. Retention of the facility would
provide :
—
On-going diversion of residual waste from landfill and its management further
up the waste hierarchy
—
Continued management of Kent’s residual waste as part of the Residual Waste
Contract
—
Certainty when exploring opportunities for the export of power and heat for
existing and new businesses
—
For FCC / Kent Enviropower to continually invest in the facility
—
Continued contribution to national energy requirements and the achievement of
renewable energy targets
The permanent retention for the facility is being proposed now in
order to:
—
To allow for the long term investment in the facility now;
—
Enable long-term options for power and heat opportunities to be realised
—
Provide clarity and certainty regarding the future of the facility
The Approach to Planning
•
Pre-application consultation with Mike Clifton (Kent CC Planning)
in late 2016
•
Formal EIA Scoping Opinion requested from Kent CC on 18th
January 2017
•
Kent CC issued formal Scoping Opinion on 20th March 2017
agreeing to the following scope of assessment:
•
—
• Landscape and Visual (including Heritage);
—
• Air Quality and Human Health;
—
• Ecology and Nature Conservation;
—
• Surface Waters and Flood Risk;
—
• Noise and Vibration, and
—
• Traffic and Transportation
Planning Application to comprise a planning statement and ES
including the agreed scope of assessments
Planning and Environmental
Assessment
Justification for Permanent
Retention of the Facility
The reason for Condition 2 being imposed is:
“In order to allow the need for this type of facility at this location to
be re-examined in the light of future alternative waste management
options coming forward.”
• By reference to relevant national policy and guidance, it is
demonstrably the case that EfW is the primary future
waste management option for the treatment of residual
waste
• The waste plan (which overs the period to 2030) does not
identify any alternative waste management options
• The waste plan identifies Allington as a strategic facility
and the evidence based for the plan shows a need for the
facility beyond 2030
Outcome of Environmental
Impact Assessment
• The EIA has concluded that the permanent
retention of the facility would not give rise to any
significant environmental effects
• The assessment work has also confirmed that:
—
Emissions from the facility are well below the limits set
out within the Environmental Permit
—
Traffic generated by the facility is almost half of the
limit set out in planning conditions
Consequences of Planning
Consent not being Granted
• In short, the considerable environmental and socioeconomic benefits of the facility would be lost, namely:
—
Alternative capacity would have to be found to divert
500,000tpa of residual waste from landfill;
—
The loss of electricity generation capacity of 34MW to
the grid (around 50% of which is classed as renewable
energy generation);
—
Opportunities for the use of heat from the facility
—
Loss of employment and associated supply chain
employment opportunities
—
Loss of spend by workers in local economy
Next Steps
Anticipated Planning Programme
Milestone
Time / Duration
Meeting with Allington CLG
4th April 2017
Finalisation and review of application
documentation
5th April – 12th April
2017
Submit Planning Application to Kent CC –
Subject to outcome of, or issues arising
from CLG
Thursday 13th April
2017
Formal Consultation on Planning
Application
24th April – 3rd August
2017
Determination of Planning Application (16 3rd August 2017
weeks)
Planning Committee
9th August 2017
Anticipated Planning Permission issue
date (subject to S106 Agreement)
11th August 2017
Any Questions?