Inquiry into a major integrated waste facility in Essex

The Secretary of State has granted planning permission, following the Inspector's recommendation after an inquiry held in September & October 2009, for a major integrated waste management facility (known as the eRCF) at the former Rivenhall Airfield, Essex. The development, which provides a flexible and sustainable waste management facility, in accordance with PPS10 and current design guidance, was promoted by Gent Fairhead with the support of Essex County Council and includes: 1. An anaerobic digestion (AD) plant treating Mixed Organic Waste (MOW), which would produce biogas that would be converted to electricity by biogas engine generators; 2. A Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) for mixed dry recyclable waste to recover materials e.g. paper, plastic, metals; 3. A Mechanical Biological Treatment facility (MBT) for the treatment of residual Municipal Solid Wastes (MSW) and/or Commercial and Industrial (C&I) waste to produce a Solid Recovered Fuel (SRF); 4. A De-inking and pulping paper recycling facility to reclaim paper pulp (this is described as Market de-inked paper pulp (MDIP); and 5. A Combined Heat and Power (CHP) plant utilising SRF to produce electricity, heat and steam; The Developer was represented by David Elvin QC and Simon Pickles, instructed by Linklaters. To read the decision letter please click here.