Government approves £300m energy plant

THE Government has given the green light to a controversial energy plant near Northwich.

Tata Chemicals Europe – formerly Brunner Mond – applied to build the £300m site which will be operated by E.ON.

The waste-to-energy plant at Lostock will generate enough power to supply 80,000 homes and create a total of 500 jobs during the construction period, and a further 50 permanent operating posts.

It will burn around 600,000 tonnes of solid fuel created from waste each year and supply a third of the power required by Tata’s soda ash plant in Northwich.

More than 4,000 people opposed the power station citing concerns over the impact of traffic, health implications, and the visual impact.

It went to a public inquiry which the Department of Energy and Climate Change said had made its recommendation after hearing, “evidence about all aspects of the proposed development, including its potential health and visual impacts as well the implications for traffic safety and the local environment”.

A Government spokesman said: “It is essential we have a balanced energy mix in the future to provide low cost, efficient energy to households and businesses.

“This plant takes waste and turns it into something of great value – enough power to supply 80,000 homes – and in addition creates jobs for the local community.”

Martin Ashcroft, Tata Chemicals Europe’s managing director, said: “This decision is excellent news. The plant is designed to provide steam to Tata Chemicals Europe’s Lostock factory.

“As an energy intensive business, we are faced with ever-rising gas prices which are increasingly difficult to absorb. The new plant will give us fuel price stability which will allow us to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels and to plan our long-term future.”

Construction of the new plant is likely to begin next year and be operational towards the end of 2016.