Plans for two anaerobic digestion plants in Lincolnshire put on hold
That's so councillors can undertake a site visit
Plans for two anaerobic digestion plants have been put on hold to allow councillors to undertake a site visit.
Members of Lincolnshire County Council’s (LCC) planning and regulation committee agreed to visit the site where an anaerobic digestion plant is planned on land to the east of Surfleet Bank and West of Woad Farm, Spalding.
The committee will also visit the site of another proposed biogas plant on land to the west of the existing Moy Park poultry factory and south of the A153, Anwick, near Sleaford.
Anaerobic digestion is a natural process where microorganisms break down organic matter like food waste, manure, or sewage – in the absence of oxygen.
Naylor Farms has applied to the county council for permission to build the plant and associated buildings on a 14.3 hectares field to the east of Surfleet Bank and west of Woad Farm, Spalding.
The proposed plant could take 105,000 tonnes of commercial food waste a year – from the processing, packing and retail industries – and convert this to generate 70GWh of biomethane.
Some of the energy produced by the plant would be used at the site while the remainder will go into the National Grid.
The proposed plant would also produce carbon dioxide, which would be used in food production, along with 88,000 tonnes of digestate by-products which could be used as a fertiliser on local farms.
The applicant for the Anwick application is StreamBioenergy UK Ltd which said that if the plant is approved, it would convert 120,000 tonnes of poultry manure into approximately 150GWh of biomethane which would be pumped into the National Grid.
The plans include a new road link to the facility and a connection to the national gas transmission system.
Planning officers recommended that both applications were deferred to allow committee members the opportunity to assess the possible impacts on the surrounding landscape, environment and road network.
Neil McBride, head of planning, said: “Both applications officers consider to be complex and controversial in nature and we feel that it would be beneficial for the committee to view those sites prior to making a decision on the applications.
“So, rather than bringing the papers to the committee, it probably seems a better use of time to get that resolution ahead of the main papers being brought to the committee – which is what the paper does this morning.”
Mr McBride said that on the day of site visit, councillors will also visit an existing anaerobic digestion plant to see what it looks like and how it operates.
He added: “The intention on the day is to also go to the site at Hemswell to have a look at that and see how that operates. That will give you an understanding of the process.”
Chair of the committee Thomas Sneath (Reform UK – Holbeach) added: “It is recommended that a site visit is undertaken by councillors in order that we can assess each of these sites and see the proposed developments in context with the surrounding landscape – and to assess the proposed access to local roads – with regards to their suitability for HGV (Heavy Goods Vehicle) use and the potential likely impacts from the developments on the amenity and the local environment.”
Councillors agreed to visit the site of both applications and members will consider the findings at a planning and regulation committee meeting on May 11.