CORNWALL ENERGY RECOVERY CENTRE WINS PERMISSION

The Secretary of State has granted planning permission for Cornwall's first major energy from waste facility in the face of significant local objection.

The Cornwall Energy Recovery Centre (CERC) is the central piece of infrastructure required under a PFI contract between Cornwall Council (as Waste Disposal Authority) and SITA Cornwall Ltd for the provision of an integrated waste management solution for all of Cornwall's municipal waste. 

A major public inquiry was held between March and October last year after the Waste Planning Authority refused planning permission on grounds that covered almost all possible planning issues. CERC comprises very large buildings and a 120 metre high chimney in the Cornish countryside. The Secretary of State acknowledged that CERC was a high quality design but, perhaps not surprisingly, concluded that the chimney and to a lesser extent the buildings would have a harmful visual impact from a number of short distance views. 

However, the Secretary of State also concluded that the benefits of CERC are substantial and compelling and outweigh the harm. The benefits include the diversion of waste away from landfill, the movement of waste up the waste hierarchy and, at the same time, the generation of electricity from a renewable source, the use of generated heat which will support the local clay industry by supplying a secure and less costly source of energy and the creation of much-needed jobs. Interestingly, the Secretary of State attached substantial weight to the financial consequences for Cornwall Council of not proceeding with the development including the costs of terminating the contract and continuing to send waste to landfill.

CERC was promoted by Richard Phillips QC and Mark Westmoreland Smith