Woodhurst Envar incinerator approved by Secretary of State

Envar Composting Ltd launched an appeal after Cambridgeshire County Council refused their planning application to build an incinerator in Woodhurst. 

After a public enquiry in February 2024, the appeal was referred to the Secretary of State to make a decision. On July 29, the appeal was approved and planning permission has been granted.

A protest took place ahead of a public inquiry in February 2024. (Image: Newsquest)

The decision was made by the Minister of State, Matthew Pennycook, who is the MP for Greenwich and Woolwich, on behalf of the Secretary of State, which is the Deputy Prime Minister, Angela Rayner.

The decision statement discusses the landscape and visual effects that the incinerator will create. It states: "The Secretary of State agrees with the Inspector that while the proposed chimney would introduce an industrial looking built feature to the locality, it would not totally change the character of the local landscape and countryside surrounding it."

Recommended Reading: Woodhurst: Public inquiry into Envar incinerator closes

It also addresses a major concern that was mentioned in the public inquiry, which was the health and wellbeing of surrounding businesses and residents.

The statement reads: "She (Secretary of State) agrees with the Inspector’s conclusions on the specific concerns raised by interested parties, and further agrees that although health and safety risks to local businesses and their associated customer base are a clear concern of local people, the information put forward confirms there is no compelling supporting scientific basis to find the level of those risks to be unacceptable."

The Secretary of State identified several benefits to the Envar incinerator, including carbon saving benefits, efficiency and sustainability and local job creation.

The People Opposing Woodhurst Incinerator protest group have been strong voices throughout the application process and took part in a protest during the public inquiry at New Shire Hall.

They are "devastated" by the decision.

Lorna Watkins is a member of the People Opposing Woodhurst Incinerator group. (Image: Lorna Watkins)

In a statement, the protest group said: "People Opposing Woodhurst Incinerator (POWI), are calling for a Judicial Review into the Government's decision to approve the project. 

"Those living, working or farming nearby believe any benefits from the scheme are outweighed by concerns about air quality, extra traffic and the adverse impact on our landscape. 

"We question whether Cambridgeshire County Council was given sufficient time during the process to assess Envar's carbon report in relation to Climate Change and Net Zero targets.  

"For every tonne of waste burnt, around one tonne of CO2 is released into the atmosphere, according to UK Without Incineration. Waste incineration has also been associated with emissions of air pollutants such as dioxins and particulate matter.  

"We also question whether the decision is rational, given NHS England launched a clinical waste strategy in 2023 to reduce emissions, by cutting the amount of waste being sent for incineration by up to 35%.

"From the outset, consultation with residents used jargon such as 'Health Energy Recovery Facility,' which many residents did not understand to mean an incinerator.  

"For these reasons, on behalf of over 4,000 residents, businesses and organisations who support our campaign, we ask Cambridgeshire County Council to seek advice on the legal basis for the Secretary of State's decision and explore the case for a Judicial Review."

Ben Obese-Jecty MP also opposed the incinerator. (Image: Ben Obese-Jecty)

Another staunch opposition voice throughout the process was that of Ben Obese-Jecty, the newly elected MP for Huntingdon. 

In February 2024, he told The Hunts Post that the plan was "at odds with what the local community wants".

Cambridgeshire County Council have confirmed that they won't be taking the decision any further. 

Chair of Cambridgeshire County Council’s Planning Committee, Councillor Henry Batchelor said:  "We are nonetheless still disappointed that the new Secretary of State has overturned the Committee’s decision. 

"We appreciate that despite the applicant’s request for an award of costs against us, this has not been granted by the Secretary of State.

"We have acted openly and conscientiously in our review of the company’s application to expand the Envar site.

"We believe we made a reasonable decision in refusing the developer’s application and in robustly defending our decision at the public inquiry.  

"The strength of public feeling and serious concerns about these proposals were clearly articulated as part of the eight-day public inquiry, and the Council did all it could to defend the decision it made."

A spokesperson for Envar said: "Envar are very pleased to learn that the Planning Inspector recommended that the appeal be allowed, the planning permission be granted & that the Secretary of State fundamentally agrees with the decision & grants planning permission.

"We will be studying the report carefully over the forthcoming period. We would like to thank all involved in the process during this period."