A WATER company says the extension to its sewage works will create 200 jobs in the area.
The extension to the Crossness works in Abbey Wood will also include a wind turbine - the first to power a British sewage works .
Thames Water says Crossness will increase its capacity by nearly half, enabling it to cope better with sudden increased sewage flows caused by heavy rain, which sometimes leads to effluent spilling into the Thames.
The new wind turbine will generate 2.5 Megawatts of power in the right conditions, enough to power 1,000 homes, and increasing the works’ self-produced energy to 50 per cent.
Thames Water's head of carbon management John Gilbert said: "Crossness will serve as an example for sewage treatment works throughout the country."
The extension was granted planning permission by Bexley Council in October.
Construction is due to begin next Spring and should be finished by 2013.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here