PLANS for a new green energy power facility at West Knapton have been given the green light.

North Yorkshire county councillors agreed with the planning officer’s recommendation that the 6,342 square metre facility should be approved - with various conditions, at a recent planning meeting.

The application is by Knapton Green Energy, a partnership between Tetragen, NCG Estates and local waste management company, FD Todd & Sons.

The facility will use so-called Advanced Thermal Treatment (ATT) technology to create energy from non-recyclable waste.

A spokesman for the county council said: “It is anticipated that the legal agreement will be completed within the next two weeks, at which point the planning permission decision notice will be issued.”

The development, which includes an office reception building, substation, switchroom, air-cooled condensers, a weighbridge, earthworks and 20 car parking spaces, will be built next to the landfill site south of the A64, near Knapton Wood.

Darrell Smith, managing director for Tetragen, welcomed the decision.

He said: “We’re delighted with the final decision of course and although it has been a long process we think that residents should be pleased with the new modified scheme agreed with NYCC which is less intrusive from a landscape perspective while still delivering the significant economic and environmental benefits that will flow from the Green Energy Facility.

“We look forward to engaging further with the local council and residents to ensure that any remaining concerns that locals may have are fully addressed throughout the construction and operating phases of the project.”

The application has not been without controversy, however. It was subject to 18 objections from the public, as well as an objection from Wintringham Parish Council and concerns raised by Scampston Parish Council.

Summing up a 93-page report, the planning officer stated that the facility would generate 8MW of low carbon energy and the development would contribute towards the Government’s commitment to divert waste from landfill and focus on renewable/low carbon electricity generation.

Conditions for the build include HGV restrictions, noise monitoring and archaeological survey.