Plans for £70m Salford Eco Park submitted
DEVELOPER Sky Properties has submitted a plan to build a controversial new waste management facility in land off Green Lane in Monton.
The facility would include a materials recycling plant, an anaerobic digestion system for breaking down organic waste and a gassification plant.
The latter would be built by Energos – a division of Salford-based engineering ENER-G – and would produce power through the combustion of waste.
Sky Properties said that if its plans are approved by Salford City Council, its facility could handle up to 240,000 tonnes of waste, provide 60 jobs and enough heat and energy to power 15,000 local homes and businesses.
The company said it has already been through a consultation exercise which involved sending information to around 14,000 local residents, a three-day exhibition and a local community meeting.
However, there has been opposition to the plans from local residents concerned about the health aspects of the gassification plant and the increased levels of traffic which the scheme could generate.
A group opposing the scheme called Say No to Green Lane Incinerator has also been established which claims an online membership of around 900 opponents and the support of local Salford MP Hazel Blears.
It is hosting a public meeting at The Kings Arms in Salford on Saturday to discuss its reaction to the planning submission.
Sky Properties has argued that the development is necessary for managing waste. It argues that its scheme offers the opportunity to regenerate disused employment land as well as other benefits such as improvements to the local road infrastructure.
The company acquired the land, which was the former home of crankshaft manufacturer Mitchell & Shackleton in 2003. It has also offered to set up a Community Liaison Group to discuss its plans further.
Anthony Hirsch of Sky Properties said: “Our engagement has been full and transparent. It’s been a very open process and right from the start our team of experienced professionals have been made available to answer any questions.
“The Green Lane Eco Park offers the opportunity to regenerate disused employment land through an investment of £70m in the local community, creating jobs and training placements and supporting local businesses by offering a more cost-effective and environmentally friendly way of managing local business waste.”
