Decision delayed over Portland waste incinerator

It's due to a new objection from Dorset Council's Landscape Architect

Author: Maria GreenwoodPublished 7th Dec 2022

We will have to wait longer for a decision on whether a waste incinerator will be built on Portland.

Powerfuel Portland's application for a facility at Portland Port was due to be considered in two-weeks time on the 22nd December.

Dorset Council say it's now unlikely to be looked at before March next year.

Why the delay?

It's to allow the company time to respond to a new objection raised by Dorset Council's Landscape Architect about the visual impact of the plant on what is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

New documents added to the Planning Application online say:

"The main concerns are due to the scale of the buildings and their location at the very edge of the exposed and highly distinctive Portland Peninsula Landform."

"The Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment (LVIA) accompanying this application has understated the significance of some of the landscape and visual effects that will be created by this development."

What happens next?

Dorset Council say as a result, the applicant has asked for more time to consider these conclusions and comment if appropriate.

Other interested parties can also read the Landscape Architect’s response on the Dorset Council website and make their own comments.

A spokesperson for Dorset Council said:

"This means the application will no longer be considered by Dorset Council's Strategic and Technical Planning Committee on 22 December as planned.

"As soon as we have a revised committee date for the consideration of this application, we will inform all interested parties."

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