New bid for anaerobic digestion plant in Norfolk

A company hoping to build an anaerobic digestion (AD) plant in Norfolk, UK, has submitted a new bid after its first application was blocked on a technicality, according to the Eastern Daily Press.

The planning application submitted by The Planning Group, on behalf of developer Mikram, outlines the company’s intentions to build two digesters, two storage tanks, a combined heat and power plant, energy crop storage area and ancillary plant, as well as a reception office/building and workshop. The £3 million (€3.4 million) facility will be able to process up to 19,250 tonnes of biomass/slurry.

According to the planning application letter, original proposals for an AD facility were submitted in 2015 and subsequently withdrawn. A new proposal was later submitted, which was rejected on 3 April 2017.

“The area of the main AD site is 0.84 hectares. However, the application site also contains additional land which is required in order to carry out highway improvement works and to establish an energy supply link to the Riverside business Park. Hence, the total area of the wider application site is 1.86ha.” reads the planning application.

Local community members opposed the plant, which is planned to be built near Kings Lynn, on the grounds it would see a nearby road flooded with lorries, in turn putting strain on the local transport infrastructure.

According to the Eastern Daily Press, Mikram has now drawn up a transport plan to address the concerns of the local community.

A lot of the documents have been revised based on the comments we received,” Mickram director Mike Stollery told Eastern Daily Press. “It’s just a resubmission. The comments from the committee were very positive, they just said they wanted us to update our construction management plan and transport management plan.”

The proposed AD plant would convert specially-grown maize and sugar beet pulp into gas. Norfolk County Council is currently holding a public consultation into the revised plans.