Rockcliffe Gasification Plant rejection sparks appeal by developer
Members of the planning committee rejected the application
The firm behind a proposed gasification plant in Rockcliffe, which was recommended for approval but refused planning permission by Cumberland Council, is going to appeal the decision, it has been confirmed.
Members of the planning committee rejected the application at a meeting at the Civic Centre on Friday (June 20) on the grounds that the impact on human health was unclear.
The controversial planning application for a site on land next to the former Unit D on the Kingmoor Park Rockcliffe Estate where the applicant was hoping to develop an Energy from Waste (EfW) facility comprising of a Solid Recovered Fuel (SRF) fed Gasification Plant with a 23m high flue stack.
At the time no-one from applicant North-west Regeneration was available for comment but the firm has since issued a statement.
A spokesman said: “This decision was made despite the planning officers’ recommendation to approve the application, 250-page report and 18 months of due diligence, and the appointment of an independent consultant called Ricardo Environmental Consulting Services to review all the documents.
“This decision was made despite the Environmental Health Department having appointed a specialist pyrolysis expert consultant to grant the SWIP environmental permit after 13 months of due diligence. The environmental permit fully complies with the Industrial Emissions Directive (IED) and UK Environmental Legislation.”
"no detrimental impact on human health"
The spokesman said the North-west Regeneration had commissioned the provision of significant studies from independent experts to provide reports that included Air Quality Assessment and Modelling, Human Health Risk Assessment, Ecology Habitat Risk Assessment, and Carbon Quality and Need Documents.
He added: “These reports have been reviewed by the statutory consultees, including: Cumberland Council Environmental Health, Cumberland Council Historic Environment, Cumbria Wildlife Trust, the Environment Agency, Historic England, Natural England, UK Health Security Agency and the Food Standards Agency.
“After further reviews of the air quality assessments and human health risk assessment Natural England stated that they had no objection to the application and its independent reports. The county ecologist has adopted the Habitat Risk Assessment report findings.
“All these experts have considered the finest detail of the project and concluded that there is no detrimental impact on human health or the environment.
“The company is awaiting the planning decision notice in full and will then lodge an appeal to the Planning Inspectorate.”
The application requests associated synthetic gas fuelled combined heat and power (CHP) generation engines and other associated ancillary equipment, machinery, plant and development including the formation of new hard-surfaced areas and drainage infrastructure; and the erection of a modular office and welfare block building.
According to the planning report the estate is situated on the south-eastern outskirts of the small village of Rockcliffe. The proposed gasification plant measures approximately 750m from the southern edge of Rockcliffe village and 1km from the northern end of the village of Cargo.
It lies approximately 2.4km north-west of the north-western perimeter of the built-up area of Carlisle. The outlier suburb of Crindledyke lies approximately 1.2km east-south-east of the site. Beyond this, the nearest residential area of the city is the Kingmoor/Lowry Hill area which lies at least 2.8km south-east from the site.