Biogas plant plans rejected after backlash

More than 1,200 people signed a petition against Ironstone Energy's plans

Plans to build an anaerobic digestion facility near Grantham have been rejected following widespread opposition.

Ironstone Energy applied for planning permission to build the facility on farmland on the Lincolnshire/Leicestershire border, just outside the village of Sewstern.

However, more than 1,200 people signed a petition against the plans, citing concerns about lorries and the visual impact on the countryside.

South Kesteven District Council's planning committee formally rejected the application at a meeting on Thursday.

'Cherished countryside'

During the meeting, ward councillor David Bellamy said that a smaller facility would have been more suitable for the rural location.

"It's a question of scale," he said, adding that the application could set a precedent that would "undoubtedly lead to further applications".

Others echoed his concerns, including Councillor Ben Green who described it as "an attempt to force an industrial scale anaerobic digestion plant into the heart of our cherished countryside".

He also highlighted the strong opposition to the plans.

"It's clear the people most affected by this development do not want it," he added.

Anaerobic digesters use bacteria to break down crops and turn them into gas

The company previously said the facility would convert about 130,000 tonnes of purpose-grown crops into biomethane, generating enough energy to supply gas for about 18,000 homes annually.

The application, which had been recommended for approval, also stated that the site was chosen because of its proximity to an existing high-pressure gas grid network and near farms that could provide purpose-grown crops, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

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