NEWS STORY

12 November, 2008

Enviros supports Staffordshire County Council to gain planning permission for new EfW facility

Enviros Consulting has played a fundamental role in gaining planning permission for a 300,000 tonne per year Energy from Waste (EfW) facility at Four Ashes in Staffordshire.

Enviros have supported Staffordshire County Council in their successful application for planning permission for an EfW plant in the county. Consultancy services provided by Enviros have included:

• the selection of the Four Ashes site
• provision of environmental support, including completion of a full EIA to support the
• planning application
• provision of direction and strategy for public communications by Counter Context
• (public relations)
• technical advice, which included the technical aspects of the EfW
• the architectural design of the facility (in conjunction with their sub-consultant
• architect Savage and Chadwick)
• planning support both through the submission of the application and dealing with issues arising during the determination period.

The efforts of Staffordshire County Council and Enviros, together with those of their subconsultants, culminated in a unanimous decision to support the facility by the planning committee, with no objections from any of the Statutory Planning Consultees. The planning application will be now referred to the Government Office of the West Midlands to be reviewed.

The application is being progressed alongside a waste private finance initiative (PFI) procurement process; establishing the EfW use of the site represents a significant step forward in managing planning risks through the procurement and beyond. The decision to permit the development represents a major achievement for Staffordshire County Council and is ground breaking in setting a precedent for other Authorities in the gaining of a planning permission alongside a significant PFI waste project.

The approach to obtaining planning permission for EfW at this stage of a waste project is unique to Staffordshire County Council and represents a novel way of approaching PFI procurement. Enviros has worked with Deloitte and Eversheds to provide a full suite of consultancy services to Staffordshire County Council, with Enviros taking the lead with respect to technical and planning advice.

The proposals at Four Ashes are for a state-of-the-art Energy from Waste Facility that will treat 300,000 tonnes of waste per year. Enviros has provided comprehensive design advice on all aspects of the facility, including engineering and process design, sustainability aspects, aesthetic and architectural input whilst minimising the potential environmental impacts. The final design will provide Staffordshire with a landmark facility designed to high standards that minimises potential environmental impacts.