A consultation into plans to build a controversial £100m energy plant in Swanscombe been adjourned.
Communities Secretary Greg Clark will have the final say on proposals by Teal Energy for a power plant in Manor Way after the application was called in by his predecessor Eric Pickles despite Kent County Council (KCC) approving the plans in September last year.
The 10-day public inquiry was opened yesterday (July 21) at the Mercure Great Danes Hotel in Maidstone but was adjourned following an appeal from Paramount resort developers.
QC Morag Ellis revealed "active" negotiations between London Resort Company Holdings (LRCH) and private landowners in Manor Way remained ongoing.
If proposals go ahead the plant will produce renewable energy from non-recyclable commercial waste, enough to generate electricity to power 45,000 homes.
Gravesham and Dartford councils have objected to the scheme over concerns about increased traffic and fears it could have an impact on the £3bn London Paramount entertainment resort proposed for the Swanscombe Peninsula.
LRCH, the company behind the resort which will feature a theme park, water park, hotels and theatres, has already called on Mr Clark to reject the proposal.
An image of what the plant could like
LRCH director David Testa said: "With emerging proposals for the Garden City and the London Paramount Entertainment Resort application to be submitted later this year, it is simply not the time for piecemeal decision-making.
"The planning position has changed considerably since the Teal application was submitted in June 2013.
"London Paramount, as the UK’s largest leisure regeneration project must be a serious consideration.
"The prejudice to the delivery of the massive regeneration benefits is real and significant – we sincerely hope the Secretary of State rejects this application."
An image of what London Paramount could look like
Dartford MP Gareth Johnson has slammed the planned location of the site.
He said: "I still feel this is the wrong location for a waste to energy plant.
"I accept the need for diversity in energy production but I don’t believe it’s in the interest of Swanscombe to have a power plant situated there."
The land in Manor Way as it looks currently
Teal Energy have revealed that the power plant, which would take around two years to build, will be housed in two steel-framed buildings will a 70 metre hight chimney stack.
Proposals predict an average of 108 HGV deliveries to the site daily between 7am and 7pm, with routes including Stanhope Road and Swanscombe High Street.
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The firm said: "Our proposal differs from established energy-from-waste plans, which traditionally have been mass incineration of non-recycled waste.
"We use clean, advanced conversion technology to generate renewable energy by converting residual recyclates – the material left after recycling – into an energy-rich gas and using this to generate electricity. It is considered to be a virtually carbon-neutral and clean technology."
"We believe Kent needs this to be at the forefront of environmental technology."
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