Plymouth City Council has commissioned an independent review of plans for an Energy from Waste (EfW) plant in Devonport. The call for review comes in the wake of concerns over a previous administration’s decision to grant planning permission to the plant, which allowed it to be constructed adjacent to a built-up local community.

After a 29-22 vote on a motion led by Council leader Tudor Evans on 30 July, a legal review will now be conducted to determine the implications of terminating the contractual arrangement between the council and the contractor MVV.

The independent review will assess the evidence regarding the health and environmental impacts of combined heat and power plants on local communities in built-up areas, as well as advise on the possibility of revoking current planning consent.

“We are not against incineration or incinerators. We have heard it will be one of the most efficient of its kind in the country. We are not against the contractor MVV, which has a good track record of constructing and operating these types of plants elsewhere. Nor do we have any problems working with our partners in Devon and Torbay. We have worked well with them on this project and will do so in the future. Nor are we unhappy about the excellent work done by officers, although on this side we do have a problem with the decision in the first place”, emphasised Councillor Evans.

“Our concern is simple, but profound. It is about the unreasonableness of sitting a massive waste plant, which will burn thousands of tons of rubbish from hundreds of thousands of homes immediately adjacent to a housing estate. A decision made by the previous administration, none of whom would have made a similar decision to site such a plant in their own wards, let alone so close to their residents.”

Evans said that the decision “never should have been made” and that the Council owes it to the people affected “to do whatever we can to reverse this injustice in the most open and democratic way possible.”

Managing director of MVV, Paul Carey said: “We have planning consent and subject to satisfying the planning conditions we will continue with construction”, but was unwilling to comment further on the council’s decision.