Food waste plant near police HQ is approved
BBCPlans to build a £30m food waste plant near a police HQ has been given the go-ahead by councillors.
Worcestershire County Council has granted planning permission for the facility, which will be built on derelict land at Court Farm, Hindlip, near the headquarters of West Mercia Police and Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service.
Both emergency services had objected to the scheme, as well as police and crime commissioner John Campion, given the proximity to their joint headquarters.
Applicants Stenergy Worcester said the decision was a "major milestone" and the facility would convert unavoidable food waste into green gas for the national grid.
Planning permission for the project was granted by Worcestershire County Council's planning committee on Tuesday.
Campion had raised concerns around protecting forensic evidence and potential contamination.
"I fully recognise the importance of sustainable waste management, but it cannot come at the expense of the police's ability to carry out investigations," he said.
The West Mercia force also raised concerns about the potential impact of reduced air quality on its forensic works and dog training units, adding it could interfere with the dogs' ability to track scent.
Nearby residents had raised concerns about smell, noise and pollution from the plant, with more than 400 people signing a petition objecting to the scheme.
The Anaerobic Digestion Biomethane Plant (ADBP) would process around 48,500 tonnes of food waste each year, converting it into biogas that could be used to power homes.
The project would also help reduce carbon emissions, improve energy security and provide a sustainable local solution for food waste management, while creating more jobs, a Stenergy Worcester spokesperson added.
Keith Warburton, the firm's chief executive officer, said it had been a "long journey" and the planning approval was the start of an "exciting new chapter".
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