Secretary of State approves development consent order for new energy recovery facility in Edmonton

Now that North London Waste Authority has been granted a DCO, the Authority (which is made up of 14 councillors from each of the seven north London boroughs) will consider the consent, and any conditions included, at a meeting in April. The Authority will also need to develop the strategy for delivering the scheme over the forthcoming months.

The North London Heat and Power Project is NLWA’s proposal to build a new energy recovery facility and associated buildings and works. The new energy recovery facility will replace the existing energy from waste plant at the EcoPark in Edmonton. The replacement facility will take waste that cannot be recycled from north London households and local businesses and turn it into energy – both heat and power.

Councillor Clyde Loakes, Chair of NLWA, said: “I am delighted that the Secretary of State has granted the DCO for a new energy recovery facility. This puts the Authority in the best possible position to consider the scheme in the round and secures the best way of managing north London’s non-recyclable waste long term.”

Following two rounds of public consultation, the application for a DCO to build the new facility, and associated development, was accepted for examination by the Planning Inspectorate (PINS) on 11 November 2015.  The Secretary of State then appointed an Examining Authority who was responsible for examining the application on their behalf.

The examination began in February 2016 and was concluded in August 2016. The examination included:

• visits to the proposed site by the Examining Authority;

• issue specific hearings, during which the Examining Authority asked NLWA and other interested parties questions about the application;

• open hearings, during which anyone who registered a relevant representation was invited to attend and make a verbal representation to the Examining Authority; and

• extensive written communication between NLWA and the Examining Authority, which enabled the Examining Authority to request further information and documentation in support of the application.

Following the development of the delivery strategy construction preparation work could start in 2019. The existing plant would be decommissioned and demolished once the new facility is up and running by 2028.

A number of community newsletters have been issued to residents within an approximate distance of 1.5km of the Edmonton EcoPark. Further community newsletters will be issued to residents when more information is available about the Authority’s plans for the site.

ENDS

Notes for editors:

1. For more information please contact, Hannah Paten, Communications Manager, on 020 8489 5765 or by email at hannah.paten@nlwa.gov.uk, or Sarah Forgione, Communications Manager, on 020 8489 4360 or by email at  sarah.forgione@nlwa.gov.uk

2. The North London Waste Authority (NLWA) is made up of seven north London boroughs (Barnet, Camden, Enfield, Hackney, Haringey, Islington and Waltham Forest).

3. Almost 1.9 million residents live in the NLWA area and the Authority is responsible for helping the seven north London boroughs dispose of the 845,000 tonnes of waste they collect every year.

4. The North London Heat and Power Project is about how NLWA can continue to dispose of waste from households and businesses in a responsible way. Even when north London reaches its 50% recycling target there will still be waste left over that needs to be dealt with.  NLWA wants to divert waste currently sent to landfill and instead use it to generate power to homes and businesses.

5. The proposed construction programme for the new facility is available at northlondonheatandpower.london/where-is-the-project-currently.