Controversial bid for incinerator is given green light

INSPECTOR SAYS SCHEME’S BENEFITS WILL OUTWEIGH THE HARM

- By EDDIE BISKNELL Local democracy reporter

CONTROVERSIAL plans for a 60-metre-tall incinerator on the outskirts of a Derbyshire town, opposed by thousands of residents, have been approved by a Government inspector.

The scheme, from R&P Clean Power Limited, will see an “energy from waste” incinerator constructed off the A444 on the outskirts of Swadlincote, to the rear of the existing Willshee's waste facility.

Government inspector Paul Griffiths held a public inquiry into the plans over eight days between April 23 and May 8 following rejection of the scheme by Derbyshire County Council in September 2024. More than 3,400 people had signed a petition opposing the scheme and more than 1,200 submitted objection letters citing concerns over pollution, health issues, traffic and landscape impact.

The approval of the appeal will mean there are three incinerators in southern Derbyshire, one in Sinfin, one in Drakelow and one in Swadlincote. At 60-metres tall, the chimney stack would be taller than Swadlincote’s famous ‘Tall Chimney’ on the Pipeworks retail park, which is 50 metres tall.

The facility would be capable of powering 36,000 homes and divert hundreds of thousands of tonnes of waste away from landfills or facilities in Europe, the applicants claimed. HGVs will visit the site nearly 200 times a day on weekdays.