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An inquiry in Matlock (opened on 23 April and closed on 8 May) has heard an appeal by R & P Clean Power Ltd for the construction of a resource recovery park including an energy recovery facility and aggregate recovery facility adjacent to an existing waste depot including grid connection cable and works, private electrical wire provision, substation, CHP off-take provision, habitats and BNG provision and which will be able to accommodate future carbon capture and storage (via rail link) on site. The application was recommended for approval by officers but rejected by members on the basis that the visual and landscape impact of the proposals (which sit on the edge of the urban area on the site of the rail yard of a former colliery and in close proximity to a huge industrial estate) would be significantly harmful.
The issue before the inquiry is primarily whether the visual harm would be outweighed by the need for the development in terms of providing capacity primarily to process Derbyshire’s residual C&I waste and drive its waste processing up the waste hierarchy. At present, Derbyshire has no fully operating ERF and of the two constructed facilities, one has been mothballed due to technology issues with gasification since 2019 and the other has yet to operate at capacity. At the moment, Derbyshire’s residual waste is either landfilled or send out of county. It is common ground that there are no alternative sites within the county for the facility.
The appeal will also consider the terms of the recent Defra Residual waste infrastructure capacity note (30.12.24), and accompanying ministerial statement, which find that the East Midlands (which includes Derbyshire) has a shortfall in waste treatment facilities. This has given rise to some disagreement on certain issues and a dispute there is a need by Derbyshire County Council, the waste planning authority, although its officers advised otherwise last September.
The Inspector who is appointed to determine the appeal is Mr Paul Griffiths BSc(Hons) BArch IHBC.
The Appellant, R & P Clean Power, is represented by David Elvin KC, instructed by Rob Garden of CMS.
