Biogas plant scheme on former mushroom farm refused

Plans to build a biogas plant at a former mushroom farm on the edge of Market Harborough have been rejected by councillors.

Great Bowden Green Energy Ltd wanted to build the anaerobic digestion facility at Marigold Farm, off Welham Way in Great Bowden, which would process chicken manure, maize and straw to create renewable low-carbon gas to feed back into the grid.

However, members of Leicestershire County Council's development control board voted to refuse planning permission for the project on Monday.

They said they were worried the industrial development would cause harm to the rural area, potential odour, and about the impact of lorries travelling to and from the site.

James Cook, who spoke on behalf of the applicant, told the committee the firm had built more than 40 similar plants elsewhere in the UK.

He said: "These plants have accumulated more than four million operating hours without any known record of complaints to the environmental health officers or the Environment Agency."

The company said it would treat some 40,000 tonnes of material a year to generate seven megawatts of biomethane.

More than 350 objections to the scheme were submitted to the council by nearby residents and councillors.

Residents said they were not assured by the applicant's argument that there would be very little odour from the plant because of control measures put in place.

Harborough, Oadby and Wigston MP Neil O'Brien said he was concerned about lorries accessing Welham Lane from the A6 Market Harborough bypass.

The Conservative member said it would have a "disastrous" impact on road safety.

The county council's highways officers said they did not object to the scheme, but O'Brien said they had underestimated its impact.

Great Bowden's district councillor Phil Knowles said he was pleased the scheme had been refused.

"This is a facility that is not wanted and arguably not needed," he said.

"If we get this wrong and agree for it to go ahead, it has the potential for transport chaos and odour impact, not only for the village but the surrounding areas and to every user of the bypass."

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