PLANS to build a plant which would transform waste food into fertiliser and enough power for 1,500 houses every year have been met with strong opposition.
Biogen UK Limited, of Milton Keynes, wants to build a plant on farmland to the south of Rushden. It would take organic materials such as meat, fats and oils from factories, restaurants and households and turn them into biogas fuel and fertiliser.
The company, which runs a similar operation near Milton Ernest, believes the new plant could prevent 43,000 tonnes of organic waste going into landfill where it would release a greenhouse gas called methane.
But East Northamptonshire Council’s planning committee objected strongly to the development on Wednesday. Cllr Dudley Hughes said: “It will smell, it’ll be dusty and it will provide only minimal employment opportunities.
“It will have a tower even bigger than the dreadful buildings in Warth Park in Raunds and it’ll be in a rural environment.
“I can’t see any reason to agree to this – it’s not even going to use local materials.”
Cllr Anna Sauntson saId: “This is basically a greenfield site and we should protect our countryside.”
Biogen says the plant would be designed to look like agricultural buildings and include filters to stop smells.
The company also said the development would be insulated so noise would not be a problem and delivery vehicles would be washed within the plant before they leave.
But councillors were also concerned about the access from the development on to the A6.
Cllr Andy Mercer said: “To solve the highways issue they would have to put in a roundabout – it would not be safe without one.
“In the four years I've been on the planning committee this is about the worst application I’ve ever seen.”
Northamptonshire County Council will decide whether the development should be given planning permission next month.
