Inquiry starts into Barton biomass plan

THE public inquiry into Peel Group’s plans for a £70m biomass plant in Greater Manchester started yesterday.

Peel wants to build a biomass plant on the Manchester Ship Canal close to the Trafford Centre in Barton that it says would generate electricity for 37,000 homes and divert 140,000 tonnes of wood destined for landfill every year.

But it has been opposed by nearby residents who claim emissions from the burning of waste will be harmful.

The plan was also rejected by Trafford Borough Council but Peel has appealed against this decision.

The inquiry is taking place at the Old Trafford stadium over the next three weeks. A final decision is not expected until next year.

Jon England, Peel Energy project manager, said: “Peel Energy considers that the independent public inquiry is an appropriate forum for the issues to be examined in an impartial and objective manner by a planning inspector.”