The power station would produce electricity using fuel from waste products including municipal, commercial and industrial waste. It would occupy up to 32ha of land between the River Aire and the M1 motorway on land adjacent to another multifuel power station already under construction.
In confirming the development consent order under the Planning Act 2008, the secretary of state for energy and climate change had due regard to relevant national policy statements, local impact reports and other relevant matters. She found sufficient evidence to conclude that the scheme would not harm internationally important wildlife sites when assessed on a cumulative basis, noting that Natural England raised no objection.
She saw no reason to suppose that an environmental permit would not be granted by the Environment Agency to regulate emissions. The scheme would have no unacceptable highway or noise impacts and would not be of a size and scale that would give rise to significant landscape and visual effects, she held, while suitable connections could be provided to the national grid. The proposal would accord with a national need to develop new electricity generating infrastructure, she concluded.
Inspector: Michael Ebert; Examination
