Press release - 08 Jul 2010
SITA UK starts public engagement on planning application for Great Blakenham energy-from-waste facility
Proposals for a new energy-from-waste facility at Great Blakenham that will save over 250,000 tonnes of household and business waste from being sent to landfill each year, along with 75,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide each year, are set to go on show later this month. Public engagement is taking place before a planning application is submitted later this year.
Suffolk residents will be able to look at the plans, view what the facility may look like, speak to the development team and submit their views on the project at public exhibitions at Great Blakenham Village Hall on:
• Thursday 22 July 2010: 12-6pm
• Friday 23 July 2010: 2-8pm
The facility is being proposed by SITA UK following its selection by Suffolk County Council as its Preferred Bidder for a 25-year Private Finance Initiative (PFI) Residual Waste Treatment Contract. Contract award is subject to a decision by Suffolk County Council’s cabinet, which will take place later this year.
The proposed facility would use modern, proven technology to produce energy from around 269,000 tonnes of waste per year that would otherwise be sent to landfill. Once fully operational, the facility would produce enough electricity to power 30,000 homes - equivalent to a town around the size of Lowestoft - and would create around 43 new, long-term jobs for Suffolk.
Commenting on the project, James Dowell – SITA UK Project Manager, said:
“SITA UK always works hard to be a good neighbour and is committed to delivering an open and inclusive community engagement programme for the proposed energy-from-waste facility. We want to ensure that local residents are fully informed about the proposals, recognise why we need to divert waste from landfill and understand how the facility sits alongside the Suffolk Waste Partnership’s goal to recycle or compost 60 per cent of municipal waste by 2015.
“We have taken great care in the design of the facility to ensure it fits well into its surroundings. The design of the building has been developed by Grimshaw, a world renowned firm of architects, who have worked on iconic developments such as the Eden Project in Cornwall.
“This is the start of the public engagement process with more exhibitions and events planned for September and October to allow the whole of the county the chance to see and understand the proposals, before we submit a planning application in December 2010.”
