Construction under way for controversial incinerator

Plans for the Wiltshire facility were approved despite local protests

Initial construction work has started at a controversial waste-to-energy incinerator site, which is expected to be completed by the end of 2028.

The company behind the site in Westbury, Wiltshire, was given planning permission by the government in 2023, after years of protests from councils and residents.

Northacre Renewable Energy Ltd (NREL) said the incinerator will generate electricity and be a "safe, sustainable solution for non-recyclable waste", but locals are concerned about issues including emissions.

The government recently brought in stricter planning rules for new incinerators, but they do not apply to those that have already been approved.

What's happening on site?

Teams are busy constructing a bund – in industrial sites generally, this is a secondary containment system built around a tank to prevent the escape of spills or pollution.

NREL said it would be finished by the end of December.

Next year, construction will continue when planning conditions have been approved.

A mechanical biological treatment plant is next to the site, which sorts residual waste that is not recyclable

The planning conditions, outlined in a government document, include the requirement for an air emissions management plan.

There is also a stipulation that the total amount of waste taken to the incinerator should not exceed 243,000 tonnes a year.

Of this, no more than 191,000 tonnes can be taken to the centre by road. The remainder can come from the existing waste recovery centre beside the incinerator.

What are the local concerns?

Over the last few years, Westbury Town Council, residents, and local MP Andrew Murrison have waged a campaign against the facility.

Concerns range from the location, including proximity to housing, to air quality.

Permission for the site was eventually granted when NREL appealed to the government's planning inspectorate.

"We lost, it had permission to be built," said Jane Russ, a town councillor and the mayor of Westbury. "That ship has sailed."

Locals in Westbury had been protesting against the incinerator for years

She said the town council has now shifted its focus to air quality.

It paid a consultant to advise on the best places for monitors in Westbury and has already installed them.

"If this incinerator gets built, we have a baseline of air quality to compare it to," said Ms Russ.

"We realised that was crucial in the research we did over the years."

What does the company say?

NREL said the facility will mean more waste can be treated locally rather than having to be sent long distances.

A spokesperson said: "Energy recovery facilities result in less waste ending up in landfill.

"This is good news for the environment because landfill produces many more greenhouse gas emissions than other methods of waste treatment."

NREL said it will "use state of the art technology to work as safely, efficiently and sustainably as possible".

The site will be regulated by the Environment Agency.