A company behind plans to build an incinerator in Wisbech believes its facility will create hundreds of jobs, opportunities for students and enhance the town’s economy.
MVV Environment Ltd made the claims at an issue specific hearing led by planning inspector Andre Pinto today (Wednesday) into whether or not an incinerator should be built.
Speaking at the Boathouse Business Centre, Paul Carey, managing director of MVV Environment Ltd, said the project “has many benefits nationally, regionally and for the local community.
“Our proposal will offer lower costs and more sustainable energy for local businesses; there will be education and community benefits, too.”
If given the go-ahead, the ‘Medworth Energy from Waste Combined Heat and Power Facility’ would be built on land off the Algores Way Industrial Estate.
The incinerator would burn household waste to generate electricity.
It is due to employ a peak of 700 workers during construction and 32 full-time workers at the site once built.
Mr Carey first recognised the Wisbech site in 2010 and was a decision between here and a site in Norwich.
Why Wisbech and what benefits will an incinerator bring?
When asked why MVV chose Wisbech, Mr Carey said: “The first thing we look for is a site with a capacity gap for residual waste and with potential for combined heating power.
“[We look for] sites that have the ability to provide heating power with good demand for heat, and it was either Norwich or Wisbech with those heat demands.”
The incinerator in Wisbech is planned to be larger than MVV’s existing UK sites such as in Plymouth and Dundee.
Mr Carey said the plans would “offer lower costs, energy security, lower carbon footprint and more sustainable energy for local businesses.
READ MORE: Wisbech incinerator protests take place ahead of hearings
“As a company, we strongly believe giving most benefits as possible to local companies whose services we require, like welders, scaffolders and civil engineers.”
The firm also aims to provide skills and employment opportunities for school and college students in the area.
When asked by Mr Pinto on what other benefits the incinerator will bring to Wisbech, Mr Carey said there would be “a lot of economic benefit over the lifetime of the project, which is around 40 years”.
Carbon zero pledge
Mr Carey told the hearing that MVV has made a “strong commitment to achieving net zero by 2040 and to be climate positive thereafter”.
The firm says the site would divert more than half a million tonnes of non-recyclable waste from landfill a year, generating more than 50 megawatts of electricity.
It would also have the capability to export steam and electricity to heat local factories.
Mr Carey said MVV is looking at investing around £450 million into the Wisbech incinerator, and that the facility would meet nationally significant infrastructure project criteria.
Meanwhile, Emma Barnett of consultant Adams Hendry Planning Solutions on behalf of Wisbech Town Council, believes MVV’s plans were not in accordance with the government’s waste hierarchy.
This outlines how waste can be generated, handled or treated.
Alexander Booth, King’s Counsel representing MVV, replied: “We say all of this is residual waste and will be secured by a requirement that only residual waste will be taken to this facility.”
Traffic issues
MVV are planning to provide at least one access point to the incinerator via New Bridge Lane close to the A47.
Cllr Steve Tierney, a Wisbech town, district and county councillor who represents the Medworth ward, was against the traffic plan.
But Alexander Booth, King’s Counsel representing MVV, said the company’s position on traffic “is entirely robust”.
Cllr Peter Human, leader of Wisbech Town Council, felt there needs to be a requirement to restrict how many vehicles access the site.
He told the hearing: “Traffic in Wisbech is bad enough at the moment, let alone hundreds of lorries coming through every day.”
In reply, Mr Booth said MVV will look to impose measures on the amount of HGV traffic to the incinerator site.
What happens next?
Today’s meeting was an issue specific hearing, which allows the planning inspectorate to examine the applicant’s proposals, as well as its aims and objectives.
The first of two open floor hearings will take place from 6pm tonight and the second from 10am on February 23.
Each person that has made a submission to Mr Pinto are due to be given around five minutes to speak.
The open floor hearings will be covered by this publication, where you can keep up to date on the latest incinerator coverage.
READ MORE: Wisbech incinerator: Public hearing details outlined
A live stream will be available via the Planning Inspectorate's website.
The Planning Inspectorate has up to six months to carry out the examination of the application, which is classed as "nationally significant".
It must then prepare a report on the application to the relevant secretary of state including a recommendation within three months.
The secretary of state then has three months to make the decision on whether the plant should be built.
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