Rubbish-powered energy plan for Portland Port

The power plant would be built within Portland Port

Plans have been unveiled to build an energy plant powered by rubbish at Portland Port in Dorset.

The £100m energy recovery facility (ERF) would use locally produced refuse to power about 30,000 homes.

Development company Powerfuel Portland said it would be built on a brownfield site which already has planning consent for a different type of power plant.

It says the new facility would have a smaller footprint and could process 180,000 tonnes of refuse fuel a year.

Powerfuel said the project would create 350 construction jobs and 30 permanent jobs.

Director Giles Frampton said the project would "help to solve the issue of Dorset exporting its waste out of the county at significant cost to either be treated or sent to landfill".

He added: "This electricity is especially important for the Isle of Portland which is currently served solely by an 18MW grid supply, which has proved to be a barrier to economic growth."

Mr Frampton set up the company with lawyer Steven McNab and the pair are working with consultant engineers, planners, architects and civil engineers on the proposal.

A drop-in event is being held on Thursday 5 December from 14:00 to 19:00 GMT at Portland Community Venue in Fortuneswell for residents to find out more about the scheme.

A planning application is expected to be submitted in spring 2020.