Hundreds raise concerns over biogas plant plans

More than 300 people have objected to the development at Marigold Farm

Fresh concerns have been raised over plans for a biogas plant at a former mushroom farm near Market Harborough.

The proposed anaerobic digestion plant at Marigold Farm, off Welham Way in Great Bowden, Leicestershire, would treat chicken manure, maize and straw.

Developer Great Bowden Green Energy Ltd wants to pipe the gas to the nearby National Grid plant.

However, more than 300 objections to the scheme have been lodged and now Harborough District Council has joined those opposing the project, claiming it is "not in the right place".

Concerns raised include fears about odour from the treatment process as well as the impact of heavy goods vehicles importing manure and food stock to the site.

Agents for the applicant said the plant would not produce odours and would generate enough biomethane to heat approximately 7,000 average-sized homes.

The application was discussed by Leicestershire County Council's development control committee on Thursday.

Officers had recommended the scheme be approved but councillors deferred making a decision, saying they wanted more information on lorry movements.

'Considerable disrepair'

Harborough District Council leader Phil Knowles said: "We have listened to the local community in respect of this development and the message is clear that it is not in the right place.

"While the district council fully supports the production of green energy, this cannot be at any cost."

The Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) said the council had recently purchased more than 130 acres (54 hectares) of land next to the application site as part of a major rewilding scheme.

The district council said it is concerned the "ecological impacts" of the facility will greatly impact on plans for nature restoration.

Knowles added: "Speaking up is the right thing to do and the strength of feeling was made clear at the board meeting."

The agent for the applicant, Lewis Smith, told councillors the farm had been unused since the early 2000s and had fallen into "considerable disrepair".

He added: "Much has been made of the potential for odour from the process and, accordingly, we have carried out detailed analysis to show this is not the case.

"My client has been involved in 40 plants over the last 14 years which all use the same technology and to date none have generated complaints due to odour or noise."